Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 8: Showing utter disregard to court order, the Forest department in Kishtwar has again issued summons to a saw mill owner in 'illegal' timber seizure case of 2007.
According to the documents with Early Times, the Authorized Officer, Forest Division Kishtwar had seized timber in premises of a saw mill owned by Ravinder Kumar. The case, however, was disposed of by the court in 2012.
"The Forest department registered case against Ravinder Kumar under case number 38/2017-08, for alleged seizure of illegal timber from the premises of the saw mill," the document reads.
The saw mill owner, feeling harassed by authorities of the Forest department, knocked the door of court. The case was produced before the Principal Session Judge, Kishtwar, on September 10, 2012. The Judge reprimanded Forest department for not adopting due procedure to conduct search in the premises of the sawmill and disposed off the case.
"Legality of the order impugned is challenged on the grounds that the search was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure and even intimation as required under sub-section 4 of section 26 of the Forest Act was not sent to the concerned magistrate. Further the seized timber had been purchased from open market by the sawmill owner," the court observed in its order on September 10, 2012.
The court, however, made it clear that its observation shall not influence Authorized Officer or competent magistrate while making interim arrangement for the custody of seized timber.
"Final disposal thereof either under Forest Act or any other provision of relevant law. Revision petition is as such disposed off accordingly, and file be consigned to record after due compilation of record summons from the Authorized Officer be sent back along with copy of this order," the order said.
Surprisingly, nearly three years after the court order, the Divisional Forest Officer, Kishtwar Forest Division has issued fresh summons to the sawmill owner.
Senior officials of the Forest Division Kishtwar were not available for comment. |
