Despite a Supreme Court ban on feeling of trees, timber is making it to the market with consummate ease, thanks to an alleged unholy nexus between forest officials, police and the smugglers in Assam. No wonder, that the prices of timber is less than the Government regulated prices of 1992, because the timber lot is sent to the market without the payment of the mandatory royalty. Forest officials clear the way for the timber to reach the market without the royalty.