IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 7TH FEBRUARY 2007 / 18TH MAGHA 1928 WP(C).No. 29577 of 2006(U) ---------------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------------- M.S. SUNEER, POONI HOUSE, MAMBAD, VADAKKANCHERRY, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. BY ADV. SMT.PRABHA R.MENON RESPONDENTS: --------------------- 1. DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, NENMARA, PALAKKAD. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY SPL.GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.SUSEELA R.BHAT THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07/02/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, J ------------------------------------------- W.P(C).No.29577 OF 2006 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 7th day of February, 2007 JUDGMENT According to the petitioner, he desires to set up a furniture unit. He requires certain approval in the form of No Objection Certificate from the Forest Department. Ext.R1(c) is an interim report of the Committee appointed by the Central Empowered Committee of the Apex Court to report regarding the grant of licence to new wood based industries in Kerala. Under the head of 'Recommendation of the Committee on issuing NOC to furniture unit without using saw', it is noted therein that furniture units which are basically carpentry units are not primary consumers of wood and have only such re-sawing operation as may be required for carpentry works for small wooden articles. Accordingly, it has been decided to recommend that the Divisional Forest Officer may be authorised to issue NOC to the furniture units that do not propose to use any saw, based on the eight guidelines which are enumerated therein. WPC.29577/06 Page numbers 2. In the aforesaid circumstance, learned counsel for the petitioner requests that the matter could be disposed of finally, directing the competent authority in the Forest Department to decide on any application of the petitioner for such NOC, which is stated to have been filed on 8.1.2007, or any further application in that regard which may be placed by the petitioner. In doing so, the competent officer will ensure that Ext.R1(c) and any binding decision of the Apex Court governing the situation will be scrupulously followed. Let a final decision be taken as above within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment or the application as aforesaid and all necessary materials, whichever is later. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN Judge kkb.