IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND SEVEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 18853 of 2006 Between: G. Muragaiah ..... PETITIONER AND The District Forest Officer & others. .....RESPONDENTS THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 18853 of 2006 ORDER: This writ petition is filed by the petitioner aggrieved by the action of the respondents in not considering the application of the petitioner for the grant of license under the A.P. Saw-Mill (Regulations) Rules,1969 and without even sending the proposals to the Central Empowered Committee for necessary action. 2. It is stated that the petitioner desired to install and operate a saw-mill at Bangarupalem, Chittoor district, and therefore he submitted several applications from 1984 onwards, and again a fresh application on 17.4.2006. However, the respondents have not considered his applications and were not even sent the same to the Central Empowered Committee. Hence, the writ petition. 3. A counter is filed by the respondents stating that the petitioner has committed an offence under the provisions of the Forest Act and in fact, though it was compounded at the request of the petitioner, but out of Rs.47,000/- payable towards the compounding fee, the petitioner paid only Rs.15,000/- and failed to pay the balance amount. Therefore, the application was not forwarded. 4. At the time of hearing, the learned Government Pleader was not able to show the provision as per which the authorities are empowered either to reject or to decline to consider the application of the petitioner. In the absence of any such provision, the respondents are directed to forward the said application of the petitioner, within four weeks, for the grant of permission to set up a saw-mill to the Central Empowered Committee, which is required to be considered by the said Committee, on merits in accordance with law. 5. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No costs. ____________________ S.ANANDA REDDY.J Dated: 11...10...2007 Kvh THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 18853 of 2006 O R D E R Dt. 11...10...2007