ORDER IA No. 276 1. On 29-7-1998, we had appointed Mr. R. M. N. Sahai, Conservator of Forests, as the Commissioner of the Court and directed him to immediately go to Thatkola Reserve Forest and submit a report about the present state of affairs in that forest. Learned counsel for the State of Karnataka had assured the Court that the State would offer all possible assistance to Mr. Sahai to undertake the task assigned by the Court to enable him to file the status report. The report has now been filed by Mr. Sahai and subsequently he has also filed a supplementary affidavit to update the main report. Copy of the same has been furnished to learned amicus. The matter shall come up for further direction on the next date for considering the report. 2. Our attention has been drawn to a news item under the caption "Demarcation of Thatkola forest land stopped, says Minister" which appeared in Deccan Herald of 12-1-1999. A perusal of the news item shows that ongoing demarcation of the Thatkola forest land, which was being carried out by the Forest and the Survey of India Departments, has been stopped under orders of a Minister of the State of Karnataka. Issue a notice to the State of Karnataka to file its response to the allegations contained in the news item, copy of which shall be sent along with the notice to the State. The State may also file their comments to the report of Mr. Sahai in the meanwhile. 3. A copy of the news item shall also be served along with the notice on the Standing Counsel for the State of Karnataka. 4. List the matter on 7-5-1999 before a Bench presided over by Honble B. N. Kirpal, J. IA No. 397 5. On 10-12-1998, this Court had observed that the notification dated 15-6-1998 issued by the Government of Nagaland, without consulting the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India ran in the teeth of the directions issued by this Court. Subsequently, an affidavit was filed by the Government of Nagaland on 15-1-1999. From that affidavit it appeared that the Government of Nagaland had not declared industrial estates as contemplated by the orders made by this Court. The matter was adjourned, at the request of learned counsel for the Government of Nagaland. 6. Subsequently, an affidavit was filed by the Government of Nagaland on 15-1-1999. From that affidavit it appeared that the Government of Nagaland had not declared industrial estates as contemplated by the orders made by this Court. The matter was adjourned, at the request of learned counsel for the Government of Nagaland. 6. An affidavit dated 22-2-1999 was filed on 23-2-1999 along with a draft notification, including Annexure A, stating that industrial estates and minor industrial estates have now been established by the Government of Nagaland. The location of those estates has been indicated in the notification. The learned Additional Solicitor General, Mr. K. N. Rawal, appearing for the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India submits that the declaration of the industrial estates and minor industrial estates as contained in the annexure to the draft notification has been examined by the Union of India and found to be in order. 7. With the publication of this draft notification, the matter is now given a quietus. 8. Let the notification be published. The Government of Nagaland shall act strictly in accordance with the notification. A follow-up report shall be filed by the State after three months from the date of the publication of the notification disclosing the status of the shifting of wood-based industries in the industrial estates/minor industrial estates. 9. The application is disposed of. IA No. 258 10. Issue notice. IA No. 259 11. Notice shall issue confined to prayer b which reads thus : "(b) direct the District Magistrate to refund the amount deposited by the applicant herein with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of payment till its realisation." Contempt Petition No. 336 of 1998 12. Vide our order of even date, we have permitted the Government of Nagaland to publish the draft notification creating industrial/minor industrial estates in obedience to our orders. In view of the order made by us in IA No. 397, no orders are required to be made in this petition. The contempt petition is accordingly dismissed and consigned to record, without expressing any opinion on the allegations made therein. Court Masters