IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PIUS C.KURIAKOSE WEDNESDAY, THE 2ND JANUARY 2008 / 12TH POUSHA 1929 WP(C).No. 33710 of 2007(K) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ E.P.JOSE VARGHESE, S/O E.P.VARGHESE, EDASSERI KUNNIL HOUSE, MEPPADI POST, WAYANAD DIST. BY ADV. SRI.KALEESWARAM RAJ SRI.K.P.PRATHAPAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, (DEVELOPMENT), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, SOUTH WAYANAD DIVISION, KALPATTA. 4. THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER, MEPPADY. 5. MUPPAINAD GRAMA PANCHAYAT, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MUPPAINAD GRAMA PANCHAYAT, P.O.VADUVANCHAL, WAYANAD DIST. 6. THE MEMBER SECRETARY, CENTRAL EMPOWERED COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA, ROOM NO.106, PARYAVARAN BHAVAN, C,G,O. COMPLEX, LODI ROAD, NEW DELHI-3. BY ADV. SRI.RANJITH THAMPAN SRI.P.PARAMESWARAN NAIR,ASST.SOLICITOR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 02/01/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: PIUS C. KURIAKOSE, J. ----------------------------------------------- W.P.(C)No. 33710 OF 2007 ----------------------------------------------- DATED THIS THE 2nd January , 2008 J U D G M E N T A detailed statement has been filed by the third respondent refuting the various grounds raised in the writ petition. I do not propose to go into the merits of the matter. Ext.P11 application has been filed by the petitioner before the 6th respondent, Central Empowered Committee. I dispose of the writ petition directing the 6th respondent to hear the petitioner and take a final decision on Ext.P1 at the earliest, at any rate within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. It is open to the petitioner to urge before the 6th respondent that previous concurrence of forest authority is not necessary regarding the saw mill and peeling unit of the petitioner. Considering the above direction, there will be a further direction that the status quo as obtaining today as regards the saw mill in question will be permitted to be continued till Ext.P1 is disposed of. (PIUS C.KURIAKOSE, JUDGE) ks. WP(C)N0. -2- WP(C)N0. -3-