settled exceeded Rs. 50,000/-, the Conservator of Forests forwarcd the papers regarding the auction sale to the Deputy Secretary Id Government of Bihar, Foest Department, for confirmation of the acceptance by the Govermnent. Since the provisional settlement was made for an amount less than the reserve price the matter was also referred to the Finance Department. 'The Finance Department invited comments from the Divisional Forest Officer as .tO why the settlement was made for a lesser amount. The Divisional Forest Officer, by his letter dated . October 30, 1970, submitted his explanation for the provisional settlement at n amount below the reserve price. W]]en the matter was pend. mg before the -Government, the appellant expressed his willingness to take the settlement at the reserve price of Rs. 95,000/-, by his communication dated October 26, 1970. The appellant thereafter filed an application on November 3, 1970, praying for settlement of the coup on the basis of the highest bid. The Minister of Forest, by his proceedings dated November 27, 1970, directed that the coup may be settled with the highest bidder, namely the appellant, at the reserve price. A telegram was sent by the Government to the Conservator of Forests, Hazaribagh Circle on November 28, 1970, with a copy of the same to the Conservator of Forest, Bihar, confinning the auction sale to the appellant at the reserve price of Rs. 95,000/-. As no intimation was received by the Divisional Forest Officer, he did not communicate the proceedings of the .Minister to the appell!jllt. . One Md. Y akub, Respondent No. 6, filed a petition on December 4, 1970, before the Government of Bihar, Respondent No. 1, offering to take the settlement of the coup in question for Rs. 1,01,125/-. A telegram was sent by the Government on December 5, 1970; to the Divisional Forest Officer, directing him not to take any action on the basis of the telegram dated November 28, 1970, sent to him in pursuance of the proceedings of the Government dated November 27, 1970. That telegram was received by the Divisional Forest Officer on December 10, 1970, and the Divisional Forest Officer, by his letter dated December 10, 1970, informed the Government that the previous telelgram dated Nove!J1ber 28, 1970, was not received by him and so it content was not communicated to the appellant. The whole matter was there-. after placed before the Minister Of Forest and the Minister, by his proceedings dated December 13, 1970, cancelled the settlement of the ooup with appellant a\ld settled the same with Respondent No. 6 for Rs. 1,01,125/-. The Government thereafter sent.telegrams on December 21, 1970, to the Conservator of Forests aitd the Diviional Forest Officer, informing them that the coup had been settled with Respondent No. 6. . The Di_vit>:ional Forest Officer, by Iii$ letter dated December 23, 1970, directed }les~dent N'o, 6 to deposit the security amount and to pay the rust instalment. Re5poildent No. 6 depositedthe same and executed an agreement.
