( 1 ) THIS writ petition is filed for a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing the respondent to return/ release the Bank guarantee of Rs. 70,800. 00 and Rs. 1,08,000. 00 of State Bank of India, Nirmal and also directing the respondent to return the security deposit of Rs. 3,000. 00 and Rs. 40,000. 00deposited by the petitioners through their GPA Holder.

( 2 ) IN the affidavit, the petitioners stated that they are the owners and pattadars of the land bearing Sy. Nos. 1,2,3 and 4 situated in Lonkapadu village of Mamada Mandal and the lands are classified as agricultural Dry Patta Lands as per the proceedings of the Divisional Forest Officer, Nirmal in No. B/ 853/91, dated 11-10-1991. When the petitioners applied for permission for felling the trees, existing in the said land bearing Sy. Nos. 1 to 4, the Conservator of Forest, Adilabad Circle vide order dated 17-6-1992 accorded permission to fell the trees in the said land covering an extent of Ac. 30. 45 cents with certain conditions that the petitioners should keep security deposit of Rs. 3,000. 00 with Divisional Forest Officer and the transportation of the same should be completed within sixty days etc. The petitioners are 25 in number and accordingly, the Divisional Forest Officer ultimately issued a notice to deposit Rs. 70,800. 00towards deposit for regeneration charges on 20-7-1992 and accordingly, they have deposited. It is further stated that the lands being patta lands, no regeneration charges need be paid. However, the amount was paid under the threat that the petitioners would be permitted only on their undertaking to deposit the said amount. In these circumstances, the General Power of Attorney holder for all the 25 petitioners deposited an amount of Rs. 70,800. 00 with the State Bank of India, Nirmal branch. But there is no legal or statutory power with the respondents, to demand or collect the regeneration charges since the lands are the patta lands and not a forest land. It is further stated that the respondent insisted that unless the regeneration charges arc paid or deposited, no permission would be given to them to fell the trees. Hence, they have given an undertaking as demanded by the officers, besides making security deposit of Rs. 3,000. 00 in Divisional Forest Office, Nirmal and it was only in those circumstances, the said security deposit and payments were made and Bank guarantee has been executed. But the respondent had no authority to get the security deposit of Rs. 40,000. 00 nor Bank guarantee for Pvs. 1,08,000/-, the petitioners arc entitled for the return of the Bank guarantee and refund of the security deposit of Rs. 3,000. 00and Rs. 40,000. 00, deposited by tte GPA Holder on behalf of the petitioners. Hence, this Hon ble Court may be pleased to issue necessary directions.

( 3 ) A detailed counter is filed by the respondent denying the allegations made by the petitioners. It is stated that the respondent did not threaten the petitioners for depositing regeneration charges and security deposits and in fact respondent acted as per the condition imposed by the Conservator of Forest, Adilabad in Ref No. 6191/93-S1, dated 3-5-1993, while granting permission to the petitioners for felling the trees and accordingly, the amounts have been deposited. The petitioners deposited the same long back in 1992, but after a lapse of nearly five years, now they are claiming the deposits and the same illegal. If the conditions imposed by the Conservator of Forests were not acceptable, they should have opposed the same. But they never protested, nor they filed any writ petition challenging the same in the year 1992 itself All these conditions are imposed by the Conservator of Forests and after knowing those conditions only the petitioners have deposited and sought the permission for felling the trees. In these circumstances, the petitioners could not have filed the present writ petition. At any rate, there is no cause of