IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6714 of 2026 ====================================================== 1. Asit Kumar Das Son of Late Biresh Chandra Das, Resident of Village- Kaptanpara, P.O.- Khushkibagh, P.S.- Sadar, District-Purnea,Bihar. 2. Nipen Chanda Aich, son of Late Naresh Chandra Aich, Resident of Station Road, P.O.- Khushkibagh, P.S.- Sadar, District- Purnea Bihar. 3. Prakash Sharma, son of Late Garbhu Sharma, Resident at Chandan Nagar Chowk, P.O.- Pokhariyar, P.S.- Khuskibagh, District-Purnea Bihar. 4. Dashrath Kamati Suman, son of Late Mahavir Kamati, Resident at Prabhat Colony, P.S. K. Hat, District- Purnea Bihar. 5. Budhdeo Sharma, son of Late Banarashi Sharma, Resident at Nagar Panchayat Rupauli, Ward No. 08, P.O.- Ajhogopa, District- Purnea Bihar. 6. Ram Nath Sah, son of Late Nand Lal Sah, Resident at Netaji Chowk, P.O. and P.S.- Jogbani, District- Araria, Bihar. 7. Hira Lal Pandit, son of Late Tikam Lal Pandit, Resident of Village and P.O.- Amhara, P.S.- Forbisganj, District- Araria Bihar. 8. Chandan Kumar Sharma, son of Late Harilal Thakur, Resident of village- Haripur, PO.and P.S.- Farbisganj, District- Araria Bihar. 9. Yogendra Prasad Mehta, son of Late Shiv Lal Mehta, Resident Village- Khajuri Bazar, P.O. and P.S.- Bhorgama, District- Araria, Bihar. 10. Kalanand Sharma, son of Late Rajeshwar Sharma, Resident of Village- Khajuri Bazar, P.O.and P.S.-Bhargawan, District- Araria, Bihar. 11. Chandrika Prasad Sharma, son of Late Ram Shresth Sharma, Resident of Village and P.O.- Narpatganj, Ward No. 05, P.S.-Narpatganj, District- Araria, Bihar. 12. Md. Zahiruddin, son of Late Abdul Sakir, Resident of Village and P.O.- Chattargach, P.S.- Chattargach, District- Kishanganj Bihar. 13. Md. Ashfaque Alam, son of Late Tajemul Hussain, Resident of Village and P.O.- Pawakhali, P.S.-Pawakhali, District- Kishanganj, Bihar. 14. Sapan Kumar Sharma, son of Late Ganga Prasad Sharma, Resident of Village and P.O.-Bahadurganj, P.S.- Bahadurganj, District- Kishanganj, Bihar. 15. Md. Mustaque Alam, son of Md. Moib, Resident of Village and P.O. Murbala Chowk, P.S.- Simraha, District- Araria, Bihar. 16. Lalan Prasad Singh, son of Sri Devendra Prasad Singh, Resident of Village and P.O.- Mangurahi (Bhagvatpur Taraura), P.S.- Mahna, District- Vaishali, Bihar. 17. Anil Kumar, son of Late Awadhesh Kumar Singh, Resident of Village Mangurahi, P.S.- Mahua, District- Vaishali, Bihar. 18. Shaila Devi, wife of Late Ram Sewak Sharma, Resident of Village -Mahindwara, P.S.- Mahnar, District- Vaishali, Bihar. 19. Geeta Devi, wife of Late Awadh Bihari Sharma, Resident of Village Bherokhra, P.S.-Tajpur, District- Samastipur, Bihar. Patna High Court CWJC No.6714 of 2026(3) dt.19-08-2026 2/5 20. Noni Gopal Das, son of Late Amrendra Nath Dutta, Resident of Village and P.O.-Tulsia, P.S.-Dighalbank, District- Kishanganj, Bihar. 21. Buchhi Sah, son of Late Ramlal Sah, Resident of Village-Dular Piprahi, P.O.-Dular Piprahi, P.S.-Gamharia, District- Madhepura, Bihar. 22. Kishori Ray, son of Late Rup Lal Ray, Resident of Village and P.O.- Bhosandi, P.S.- Motipur, District- Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 23. Mewalal Bhagat, son of Sukhdeo Bhagat, Resident of Village-Sinduarigaj Singh, P.O.and P.S.-Motipur, District- Muzaffarpur, Bihar. 24. Santosh Kumar Upadhyay, son of Sri Kanhaiya Upadhyay, Resident of Village and P.O.- Roshna, P.S.-Pranpur, District- Katihar, Bihar. 25. Suresh Kumar Yadav, son of Late Laxman Ray, Resident of Village and P.O.-Baruraj, P.S.-Baruraj, District- Muzaffarpur, Bihar. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus 1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Bihar, Patna. 2. The Chairman, State Level Committee For Wood-based Industries, Bihar, Patna. 3. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Bihar Patna. 4. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Development), Bihar, Patna. 5. The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Campa) -cum-Nodel Officer (Forest Conservation) Bihar, Patna. 6. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Purnia Forest Division, Purena. 7. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Araria Forest Division, Araria. 8. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Vaishali Forest Division, Vaishali. 9. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Saharsa Forest Division, Saharsa. 10. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Samastipur Forest Division, Samastipur. 11. The Licensing Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Tirhut Forest Division, Muzaffarpur. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Mrigank Mauli, Sr. Adv. Mr. Vinay Mistry, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Pleader (20) Mr. Samir Kumar, AC to GP 20 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY ORAL ORDER Patna High Court CWJC No.6714 of 2026(3) dt.19-08-2026 3/5 3 19-08-2026 Heard the learned counsel for the parties. 2. This writ petition has been filed for the following relief(s):- “(i) For issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing of the 2nd Provisional Seniority List of unlicensed Saw Mills dated 17.02.2026 Forest (Annexure-P-8) finalised by the Respondent No.4-Principal Chief Conservator (Development) Bihar whereby the petitioners have allegedly been excluded from the aforesaid Provisional Seniority List without asking any show cause notice in the facts and circumstances of this case. (ii) For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus to hold and declare the Provisional Seniority 1st List dated 18.02.2025 the Additional (Annexure-P-6) published by Chief Conservator of Forest (Campa)-cum-Nodel Officer (Forest Conservation), Bihar, Patna is legal and valid in terms of Resolution No. 3240 dated 29.08.2023 of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar as the aforesaid provisional seniority list has been finalized on the basis of date of application of license under the Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation) Act, 1990. (iii) For issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the Respondent No. 4 Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Development) Bihar to include the petitioners in the final seniority list in the facts and Patna High Court CWJC No.6714 of 2026(3) dt.19-08-2026 4/5 circumstance of this case.” 3. In the counter affidavit filed by the official Respondent, at paragraphs 22, 23 and 24, it is specifically stated as under:- “22) That After the list of Saw mills were made available by the Divisional Forest officers in prescribed format 1 (क) and 1 (ख) the second provisional list of saw mills, which applied for license up to 29.10.2002 but were not granted license, has been prepared and published in the newspaper. This second provisional list has been challenged in this writ application. 23) That In the second provisional seniority list the names of the Saw millowners in prescribed format 1 (ख) have not been included because documents produced by them is not found available in the records of the Divisional Forest officers. The second provisional seniority list, thus includes the names of saw mills included in prescribed format 1 (क). Totai number of saw mills included in said second provisional seniority list is 773. 24) That Objections had been invited on the second provisional seniority list and 323 objections have been received. The committee in meeting held on 13.04.2026 has taken decision to forward the objections to the Concerned Divisional Forest officers for Patna High Court CWJC No.6714 of 2026(3) dt.19-08-2026 5/5 disposal. By letter no 378 dated 15.04.2026 of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Development), Bihar the Objections have been forwarded to the Concerned Divisional Forest officers asking them to pass speaking orders after hearing on the objections.” 4. When queried by this Court, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the petitioner has filed his objections to the second provisional list prepared by the Department. 5. Having regard to the same, the official Respondents are directed to consider the objections filed by the petitioner as expeditiously, as possibly preferably within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6. It is needless to mention that before passing any order, the petitioner shall be given an opportunity of hearing. Any decision taken by the authority shall be communicated to the party. 7. With the above directions, the present writ petition stands disposed of. Bhardwaj/- (A. Abhishek Reddy , J) U