application before the Panchayat on 2.01.2019, for renewal of license for operation of the sawmill, producing the requisite certificates. But the DFO, as per Ext.P11 letter informed the Panchayat that the license in favour of the sawmill cannot be renewed, in view of the Government Order issued on 19.04.2012. Thereafter, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest returned the application submitted by the petitioner in Form IC, as per Ext.P12 letter for submission of application before the authorised officer, as per rules. He thereafter submitted Ext.P13 application before the Divisional Forest Officer, in Form 1C, on 03.08.2019. Ext.P14 is the order passed on it, rejecting the application on the ground that the renewal application was belated. It is stated that as per Rule 3A of the said Rules, persons who were owning or running saw mills on or before 30.10.2002 were to obtain license from the Forest Department after submitting application in Form IA before the authorised officer within the prescribed time and that the amendment was ordered as per notification dated 09.09.2015, granting 6 months' further time for those who couldn't submit application in accordance with the rules. The petitioner was informed that the sawmill shall not be operated without license from the Forest Department.
