THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.C. BHANU WRIT PETITION No. 29596 of 2011 ORDER: 1. This Writ Petition is filed seeking a mandamus declaring the action of the 3rd respondent in not renewing the saw mill license of the petitioner situate in Ramagiri Road, Nalgonda, in pursuance of the application dated 11.03.2011 as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to direct the respondents to renew the licence up to 31.12.2011. 2. The brief facts of the case are as follows: The petitioner is running a saw mill in the name and style of M/s Radha Krishna Saw Mill & Timber Depot. For the year 2011, the petitioner has to pay the licence fee on or before 28.02.2011, but due to the unusual circumstances prevailing in some parts of the State, he could not pay the same in time. However, the Treasury Department has received the amount by way of challan on 07.03.2011. After remittance of the challan, the petitioner submitted an application dated 11.03.2011 to renew the license of his saw mill, to the 3rd respondent, but the latter, instead of renewing the licence, forwarded the same to the 2nd respondent by his proceedings Rc.No. 1362/2011/S3, dated 17.03.2011 seeking a clarification. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that because of the ongoing strike of NGOs., the petitioner could not pay the license fee in time and after the strike was called off, he paid the amount on 07.03.2011 and therefore, he prays to give a direction to the 3rd respondent to renew the license. 4. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader for Forests contends that the 3rd respondent - Divisional Forest Officer submitted a proposal to the 2nd petitioner, because the petitioner has not paid the licence fee within the time prescribed under law, therefore, an appropriate decision has to be taken by the 2nd respondent in accordance with law. 5. The factual matrix is not in dispute. The petitioner is the owner of the saw mill and its licence expired by 31.12.2010. For renewal of licence, the petitioner has to pay the necessary fee on or before 31.12.2010, but however, with penalty, the petitioner can as well pay that amount on or before 28.02.2011. Admittedly, the petitioner has not paid the amount within the period prescribed, but he has paid the licence fee on 07.03.2011. The explanation given by the petitioner for not paying the fee within the above mentioned time was that the NGOs. went on strike between 17.02.2011 and 04.03.2011 and therefore, no transactions took place in treasuries during the said period. The petitioner has not paid the amount in the circumstances beyond his control. Therefore, the 3rd respondent - Divisional Forest Officer rightly forwarded the application of the petitioner for renewal of licence, to the 2nd respondent seeking clarification. 6. Therefore, the 2nd respondent is directed to take an appropriate decision on the proceedings of the 3rd respondent, dated 17.03.2011 within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, duly taking into account the fact that the petitioner could not pay the licence fee because of the strike. 7. With this direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. --------------------- (K.C. BHANU, J) 14th November 2011 ksld