IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD HON’BLE Mr. JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY Writ Petition No.11796 of 2006 Dated: June 15, 2006 Between: Abboju Veera Chary, S/o. Buchi Veeraiah, aged about 49 years, owner of M/s. Ganesh Saw Mill & Timber Depot, R/o. H.No.20-9-94, Middle Fort, Warangal. … Petitioner And The Divisional Forest Officer, Warangal North Division, Warangal. … Respondent Order: The petitioner was initially granted sawmill licence in February, 2006, under A.P. Saw Mills (Regulation) Rules, 1969, framed under Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 1967. The said licence was valid upto 31-12-2008. While so, the first respondent issued Proceedings No.7616/2002/S5 dated 19-05-2006 cancelling the licence granted to the petitioner in view of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 16-11-2002, passed in W.P.No.202 of 1995. In the aforesaid order, the Apex Court while dealing with the permits granted to sawmills in the states of Nagaland, Karnataka, etc. has issued directions to all the State Governments and Union Territories not to grant permissions for opening of any sawmills, veneer or plywood industry without prior permission of the Central Empowered Committee. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents. 3. As much as there is no absolute prohibition for grant of licence and in view of the directions issued by the Apex Court, it is permissible for the licencing authority to consider the applications for grant of permission subject to permission by the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. As much as the petitioner was initially granted licence in February, 2006, and it is valid upto 31-12-2008 and the same was cancelled by referring to the directions of the Apex Court and as there is no absolute prohibition, I dispose of the writ petition directing the the respondent, the Divisional Forest Officer, to refer the case of the petitioner within a period of two weeks from the date of the receipt of a copy of this order, for consideration as to permission by the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, under the provisions of sub-section (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, by notification dated 17-09-2002, for grant of licence/renewal of licence granted under A.P. Saw Mills (Regulation) Rules, 1969. Subject to the orders that may be passed as to permission by the Central Empowered Committee, the Divisional Forest Officer shall take steps for restoration of the licence in case the Central Empowered Committee approves for grant of such licence in favour of the petitioner. No costs. ____________________________ JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY. June 15, 2006 MRR