THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.17496 of 2011 Date : 24-06-2011 Between : B.Venkateswar Reddy .. Petitioner and The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, (Head of Forest Force) Andhra Pradesh, Aranya Bhavan, Saifabad, Hyderabad & 4 Others .. Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.17496 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri M.V.Raja Ram, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Forests appearing on behalf of the Respondents and with their consent the Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission. The petitioner is the registered owner of a goods vehicle bearing No.AP 24 TA 2233. The 4th Respondent-Forest Range Officer, Gudur, Warangal District intercepted the vehicle while transporting the iron ore from Reserve Forest Compartment No.676 of Pakhal Beat, Ashoknagar Section of Narsampet range and seized the vehicle under proceedings dated 09-03-2011 alleging contravention of the provisions of A.P. Forest Act, 1967 and Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. The 4th Respondent submitted a report to the Divisional Forest Officer-3rd Respondent herein. The petitioner was served with a show cause notice dated 20-04-2011. The petitioner while submitting explanation admitted that they were removing the soil from the reserve forest areas illegally and agreed for paying penalty. Accepting the offer of the petitioner the 3rd Respondent passed an order in Proc.No.1226/2011/S5, dated 02-05-2011 compounding the offences for a sum of Rs.25,000/- directing the petitioner to pay the said amount within a period of 15 days. Earlier the petitioner approached this Court in W.P.No.14545 of 2011 challenging the said order and he withdrew the same undertaking to comply with the said order. It is stated that thereafter he approached the 3rd Respondent to accept the compounding amount. The 3rd respondent appears to have declined to accept the amount on the ground that the same was not remitted within the stipulated time. Hence, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition. Sri M.V.Raja Ram, learned counsel for the petitioner while conceding the impugned order submits that the petitioner is willing to pay the amount within one week from today and therefore seeks a direction to the 3rd respondent to accept the said amount in pursuance of the impugned order. Learned Government Pleader however submits that if the petitioner fails to pay the amount within one week, the 3rd Respondent is entitled to confiscate the vehicle in lieu of the compounding amount. Having regard to the aforesaid facts, this Writ Petition is disposed of as follows : (i) The petitioner shall pay the compounding amount of Rs.25,000/- as ordered by the 3rd Respondent in his Proc.No.1226/2011/S5, dated 02-05-2011 within a period of one week from today; (ii) on such payment, the 3rd Respondent is directed to release the vehicle bearing registration No.AP 24 TA 2233 in favour of the petitioner; and (iii) in default, the 3rd Respondent is entitled to order for confiscation of the said vehicle. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 24th June, 2011 Note : Issue operative portion by wire at party’s costs. B/O skmr