T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the respondent, Pravakar Behera, D.F.O. Puri Division, violated the order dated 29/30th October 2002, which prohibited the operation of unlicensed saw mills and mandated prior permission from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for new saw mills. The Court emphasized that the establishment of saw mills within 10 kilometers of forest areas is prohibited under Section 4 of the Orissa Saw Mills and Saw Pits (Control) Act, 1991. The Court found the respondent in contempt for granting licenses to five saw mills despite these prohibitions, leading to the issuance of a suo motu notice of contempt against him.