Patna High Court

Munni DeviversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 2 February 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: SANDEEP KUMAR

Holding

The Court directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest‑cum‑Chairman to dispose of the representation dated 15‑12‑2025 and pass a reasoned order, without deciding the merits of the licensing application.

Summary

Munni Devi, the petitioner, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest‑cum‑Chairman of the State Level Committee for Wood‑Based Industries, Bihar, to dispose of her representation dated 15‑12‑2025. She wants her saw‑mill included in the Final Seniority List so that her 2002 license application can be considered under the Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation) Act, 1990 and the Bihar Wood‑Based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Act, 2025. The petitioner argued that the respondent had failed to act on her representation. The Court, after hearing both sides, ordered the respondent to dispose of the representation and pass a reasoned order, without examining the merits of the underlying licensing claim. The order is limited to directing disposal of the representation and does not adjudicate the substantive licensing issue.

Issues considered

Whether the High Court can issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent to dispose of a pending representation.
Whether the respondent has a legal duty to consider and decide the representation within a reasonable time under the applicable statutes.

Legislation cited

Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation) Act, 1990

Subjects

mandamus
writ jurisdiction
seniority list
saw mill license
environmental law
forest department
administrative law

Judgment

                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                                Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.890 of 2026
                 ======================================================
                 Munni Devi Wife of Sipahi Sharma, Resident of Village- Ramgarh, P.S.-
                 Ramgarh, District- Kaimur at Bhabhua.

                                                                            ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                   Versus
           1.    The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest
                 Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
           2.    The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest-cum-Chairman of State Level
                 Committee for Wood- based Industries, Bihar, Patna.
           3.    The Licensing Officer-Cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Kaimur Forest
                 Division, Bhabhua.
           4.    The Forester, Mohania, P.S.- Mohania, District- Kaimur at Bhabhua.

                                                           ... ... Respondent/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s   :      Mr.Vinay Mistry, Advocate
                 For the Respondent/s   :      Mr.Government Pleader (23)
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   02-02-2026                 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned

                   counsel for the State.

                               2. The petitioner has moved the Court for the

                   following reliefs:

                                            “For issuance of a writ in the nature
                                 of mandamus directing the Principal Chief
                                 Conservator of Forest cum Chairman, State
                                 Level Committee For Wood-Based Industries,
                                 Bihar (Respondent No.2) to dispose of the
                                 representation dated 15.12.2025 (Annexure-P-
                                 3) filed by the petitioner to include her saw mill
                                 in the Final Seniority List SO that the
                                 "Application of License" dated 20.09.2002
                                 could be considered for grant of new saw mill
                                 license under the Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation)
                                 Act, 1990 read with Bihar Wood-Based
                                 Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Act,
                                 2025.”
           Patna High Court CWJC No.890 of 2026(2) dt.02-02-2026
                                                       2/2




                                 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the

                     petitioner had preferred a representation dated 15.12.2025

                     before the Chairman, State Level Committee for Wood-Based

                     Industries, Bihar.

                                 4. In view of the above, this application is disposed of

                     with a direction to the respondent no. 2 i.e., Principal Chief

                     Conservator of Forest-cum- Chairman, State Level Committee

                     for Wood-Based Industries, Bihar, Patna, to dispose of the

                     objection/representation dated 15.12.2025 filed by the petitioner

                     before him and pass a reasoned order in accordance with law.

                                 5. It is clarified that this Court has not gone into the

                     merit of the case and is only directing for disposal of the

                     representation.


                                                                   (Sandeep Kumar, J)

P. Kumar

U     T

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