RANJAN KUMAR Vs. STATE OF UTTARANCHAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PRAFULLA C. Pant, J. We heard learned counsel for the parties.

(2.) BY means of this writ petition, moved under Article 226 of Constitu tion of India, the petitioner has sought writ in the nature of mandamus, direct ing the respondents to issue/renew the license to run saw mill in the name of petitioner.

(3.) THE controversy as to the per mission to establish the saw mill within a distance of 10 kilometers from the forest area earlier arose before this Court in writ petition No. 1082 of 2005 (M/b), Moh. Hazi Rafeeq Vs. State of Uttaranchal [2006 (1 ). U. D. Pg. 14], de cided on 24-11-2005. While deciding the said controversy, this Court has ob served as under : "the object of prohibiting relocation of saw mills within 10 Kms. from any existing forest is to preserve and protect forests and to prevent illicit felling of trees and destruction of forests and also to avoid the adverse impact of pollution, if any, caused by saw mills, on the forests. "