IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.11331 of 2026 Decided on: 9th July, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Small Scale Katha Industries Association and others …..Petitioners Versus State of H.P. and others .....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioners: Mr. Jyotirmay Bhatt, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. L.N. Sharma, Additional Advocate General. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Notice. Mr. L.N. Sharma, learned Additional Advocate General, appears and waives service of notice on behalf of the respondents. With the consent of learned counsel for the parties, the matter has been taken up for disposal at this stage. 2. The case set up by the petitioners is that they are duly registered as Depot under the H.P. Forest (Sale of 1Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes. 2 Timber) Act, 1968 as also under the H.P. Forest (Sale of Timber) Rules, 1969, as amended from time to time. According to the petitioners, the respondent-Forest Department is compelling the registered Depot Holders to obtain direct export permits. This, as per them, is not in consonance with Rule 13 of the H.P. Forest (Sale of Timber) Rules, 1969. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have preferred a detailed representation on 26.02.2026 (Annexure P-2) to respondent No.1 in this regard, but no decision thereupon has yet been conveyed to them. That the petitioners will be satisfied in case respondent No.1/competent authority is directed to consider and decide the aforesaid representation of the petitioners in accordance with law within a time bound schedule. Learned Additional Advocate General is not averse to this prayer. 4. Keeping in view the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, but without examining the merits of the matter, this writ petition is disposed of with direction to respondent No.1/competent authority to consider and decide the aforesaid representation of the petitioners dated 26.02.2026 (Annexure P-2) in accordance 3 with law and the Rules governing the field, within a period of six weeks from today. The decision so arrived at shall also be communicated to the petitioners. The writ petition stands disposed of in the above terms, so also the pending miscellaneous application(s), if any. Jyotsna Rewal Dua July 09, 2026 Judge Mukesh