T M THANGARAJ Vs. ASSISTANT ELECTRICITY ENGINEER DISTRIBUTION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ALL the petitioners herein are running Saw Mills. By the orders impugned in these writ petitions, the electricity service connections to these Saw Mills have either been disconnected by the Electricity Board or directions issued by the District Forest Officer to the Electricity Board, to disconnect the service connections, on the ground that no Saw Mill can be allowed to function without a proper license issued by the Central Empowered Committee in terms of the decision of the Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad vs. Union of India.

(2.) I have heard Mr.A.Abdul Kadhar, Mr.Veera. Kathiravan, Mr.J.Anandkumar, Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan and Mr.C.Arul Vadivel @ Sekar, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr.B.Pugazhenthi, learned Special Government Pleader for the Government/Forest Department and Mr.S.M.S. Johnny Basha, learned Standing Counsel for the Electricity Board.

(3.) IN T.N.Godavarman Thirumalpad vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court constituted a Central Empowered Committee and issued directions from time to time. One of the directions issued by the Supreme Court on 29.10.2002 was as follows: -