M/S Mithila Timber vs The State Of Bihar
2022 Latest Caselaw 1071 Patna

         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                    Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.21328 of 2021
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M/s Mithila Timber Champa, P.S.-Arer, District-Madhubani a proprietorship firm through its Proprietor Ajay KUmar, aged about 35 years, Male, son of Sri Ramesh Kumar Sah, Resident of Village-Mohanpur, P.S.-Pachadhi, District- Darbhanga.

... ... Petitioner/s Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Forest, Government of Bihar, Patna.

2. The Chairman, State Level Committee for Wood-Based Industries, Bihar-

cum-Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Bihar, Patna.

3. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Mithila Forest Darbhanga.

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Vinay Mistry, Adv For the Respondent/s : Mr.Awanish Nandan Sinha (GP21) ====================================================== (The proceedings of the Court are being conducted by Hon'ble the Chief Justice /Hon'ble Judges through Video Conferencing from their residential offices/residences. Also, the Advocates and the Staffs joined the proceedings through Video Conferencing from their residences /offices.) CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR )

Date : 11-02-2022 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-

"(I) For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the Respondent No. 2 Chairman State Level Committee for Wood based Industries, Bihar cum Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Bihar, Patna to dispose of the representation of the petitioner dated 13.12.2021 (annexure-3) requesting him to grant approval to the Licensing Officer to transfer/renew the License of Saw Mill bearing license No. 2929 of 1994 dated 09.02.1994 in the name of style of M/S Mithila Timber in favour of the petitioner in terms of the Wood Based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Guidelines, 2016 framed by the Government of India and Bihar Wood-Based Patna High Court CWJC No.21328 of 2021 dt.11-02-2022

Industries (Establishment & Regulation)Bill, 2020 and the aforesaid representation is still pending for the aforesaid representation is still pending for consideration before the Chairman of the State Level Committee for Wood Based Industries, Bihar, Patna.

(ii) For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent authorities not totake any coercive steps against the petitioner till such time the matter finally decided by the State Level Committee for Wood Based Industries, Bihar Patna, in the facts and circumstances of the case."

After the matter was heard for some time, learned

counsel for the petitioner, under instructions, states that

petitioner shall be content if a direction is issued to the authority

concerned i.e. respondent no. 2 Chairman, State Level

Committee for Wood-Based Industries, Bihar-cum-Principal

Chief Conservator of Forest, Bihar, Patna, to consider and

decide the representation which the petitioner shall be filing

within a period of four weeks from today for redressal of the

grievance(s).

Learned counsel for the respondents states that if such a

representation is filed by the petitioner, the authority concerned

shall consider and dispose it of expeditiously and preferably

within a period of three months from the date of its filing along

with a copy of this order. Statement accepted and taken on

record.

As such, petition stands disposed of on the following

terms:-

Patna High Court CWJC No.21328 of 2021 dt.11-02-2022

(a) Petitioner shall approach the authority concerned

within a period of four weeks from today by filing a

representation for redressal of the grievance(s);

(b) The authority concerned shall consider and dispose

it of expeditiously by a reasoned and speaking order preferably

within a period of four months from the date of its filing along

with a copy of this order;

(c) The order assigning reasons shall be communicated

to the petitioner;

(d) Needless to add, while considering such

representation, principles of natural justice shall be followed

and due opportunity of hearing afforded to the parties;

(e) Also, opportunity to place on record all relevant

materials/documents shall be granted to the parties;

(f) Equally, liberty is reserved to the petitioner to take

recourse to such alternative remedies as are otherwise available

in accordance with law;

(g) We are hopeful that as and when petitioner takes

recourse to such remedies, as are otherwise available in law,

before the appropriate forum, the same shall be dealt with, in

accordance with law and with reasonable dispatch;

(h) Liberty reserved to the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court CWJC No.21328 of 2021 dt.11-02-2022

appropriate forum/Court, should the need so arise subsequently

on the same and subsequent cause of action;

(i) We have not expressed any opinion on merits. All

issues are left open;

(j) The proceedings, during the time of current

Pandemic- Covid-19 shall be conducted through digital mode,

unless the parties otherwise mutually agree to meet in person i.e.

physical mode;

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

Interlocutory Application(s), if any, stands disposed of.

(Sanjay Karol, CJ)

(S. Kumar, J)

ranjan/-

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