BASUDEO YADAV Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As in all these writ petitions the question involved is common, they have been heard for final disposal by a common order.

(2.) In all these writ petitions the petitioners are aggrieved either by rejection of their applications for renewal of licence; cancellation of licence to run saw mills granted under the provisions of the Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation) Act, 1990 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'); or denial of consideration of their cases for renewal/grant of licences for running saw mills, though they claimed to have submitted applications and in some cases also deposited the requisite fees.

(3.) The case of the petitioners is that they have established saw mills which are their source of livelihood outside the forest area, yet the licensing authorities have arbitrarily denied grant of licence under the Act to run the saw mills either by refusal of renewal; cancellation of licence or by their non-disposal of the applications for renewal/grant of licence. It is to be noted here that earlier there was no requirement of taking licence for running saw mills. However, in the year 1990, for the first time, the saw mill owners were required to have licence to run the saw mills from Forest Offices under the provisions of the Act and the petitioners accordingly applied for renewal/grant of licence.