1 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 25.08.2011 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUDHAKAR W.P.(MD)No.9632 of 2011 and M.P(MD)No.1 of 2011 S.Annal, Proprietor, Santha Cruz Saw Mill, 205/2B S.P.S.Street, Radhapuram-627 111. ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The District Forest Officer, Tirunelveli. 2. Chairman Tamilnadu Electricity Board, 144, Anna Salai, Madras-2. 3. The Superintending Engineer, TNEB, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District. 4. The Chief Engineer, TNEB, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli. 5. The Assistant Engineer, TNEB, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli. ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to consider the application dated 13.08.2011 of the petitioner for grant of License in respect of Saw Mill concern named "Santha Cruz Saw Mill" situated at Door No.31/14, Survey No.199/1C3, Vadakankulam Road, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli District-627 111 as per Tamil Nadu Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2010 and consequently directing the respondents 2 to 5 not to take any coercive steps like closure or disconnecting the Electricity Board connection of 38 HP 30 KW vide Account No.S.No.626/E6/164 and the present service connection of the concern is S.C.No.07-065-001-1541 in respect of the petitioner's Saw Mill concern named "Santha Cruz Saw Mill" situated at Door No.31/14, Survey No.199/1C3, Vadakankulam Road, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli District-627 111. For Petitioner ... Mr.J.Suresh For Respondents ... Mr.M.Govindan Special Government Pleader for R.1 ... Mr.K.Mahendran Special Government Pleader for R.2 to R.5 ORDER This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner for a writ of Mandamus to direct the first respondent to consider the application dated 13.08.2011 of the petitioner for grant of License in respect of Saw Mill concern named "Santha Cruz Saw Mill" situated at Door No.31/14, Survey No.199/1C3, Vadakankulam Road, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli District-627 111 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2 as per Tamil Nadu Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2010 and consequently directing the respondents 2 to 5 not to take any coercive steps like closure or disconnecting the Electricity Board connection of 38 HP 30 KW vide Account No.S.No.626/E6/164 and the present service connection of the concern is S.C.No.07-065-001-1541 in respect of the petitioner's Saw Mill concern named "Santha Cruz Saw Mill" situated at Door No.31/14, Survey No.199/1C3, Vadakankulam Road, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli District-627 111. 2. Heard Mr.J.Suresh, learned Counsel for the petitioner , Mr.M.Govindan, learned Special Government Pleader, who takes notice for the first respondent and Mr.K.Mahendran, learned Special Government Pleader who takes notice for the respondents 2 to 5. 3. By consent, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal. 4. Though the writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents 2 to 5 not to take action for closure or disconnect the electricity connection in petitioner's saw mill, the petitioner pleads that the writ petition shall be disposed of in view of the Apex Court direction and in view of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Wood Based Industries Rules, 2010. 5. In view of the above, the first respondent/District Forest Officer is directed to consider the application of the petitioner for grant of licence as expeditiously as possible and in view of the similar order as passed in W.P(MD)No.8950 of 2011 dated 10.08.2011 and paragraph 4 of that order reads as follows: "4. Since the Writ Petition is filed by the federation and in view of the objection raised by the learned Special Government Pleader, the individual Members of the Federation are directed to make a representation/application to the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum- Chairman of the State Level Committee, after submitting the same to the licensed authority/District Forests Officers, which will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with the relevant provisions of law and the orders of the Honourable Supreme Court for expeditious disposal. Considering the fact that many of the members of the petitioner's Federation claims to be small saw mill owners and they are eking their livelihood in this business, the decision should be taken expeditiously, so that the petitioner's grievance may be redressed at the earliest. As and when such application is filed, the authority is directed to consider the same as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three months from the date of such application. The respondent/authority may also consider the claim of the individual saw mill owners seeking to run the unit, pending consideration of the application on its own merits." https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3 6. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (RTI) /True copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To 1. The District Forest Officer, Tirunelveli. 2. Chairman Tamilnadu Electricity Board, 144, Anna Salai, Madras-2. 3. The Superintending Engineer, TNEB, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District. 4. The Chief Engineer, TNEB, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli. 5. The Assistant Engineer, TNEB, Radhapuram, Tirunelveli. +1CC TO THE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER, SR.29331 Ssl SR : 08.09.2011 : 3p/7c W.P.(MD)No.9632 of 2011 and M.P(MD)No.1 of 2011 25.08.2011 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/