Naresh Lal v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.7745 of 2018 =========================================================== Naresh Lal, S/o Late Brahmdev Lal, Resident of Village- Ganni Pipra, P.S.- Fatehpur, District- Gaya.

.... .... Petitioner

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through Principal Secretary, Food & Civil Supply Department, Patna.

2. The SDO, Sadar Gaya.

3. The Block Supply Officer, Fatehpur, Gaya.

.... .... Respondents =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner : Mr. Vijay Anand, Advocate For the State : Mr. Alok Ranjan, Advocate =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 10-05-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The present writ petition has been filed challenging the order contained in Memo No. 441 dated 11.04.2018 (Annexure-3) by which P.D.S. licence of the petitioner bearing licence no. 38/2016 has been cancelled by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar Gaya (respondent no. 2).

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner makes a short submission to assail the impugned order of cancellation, to the effect that the same has been passed mechanically and without due application of mind and without assigning any reason for such

Patna High Court CWJC No.7745 of 2018 dt.10-05-2018 2/3 cancellation.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents appears and has been heard. No counter affidavit has been filed till date.

5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on careful consideration of the materials available on record, this Court finds merit in the writ petition. A bare perusal of the impugned order discloses that the petitioner's P.D.S. licence has been cancelled on the sole ground that the show cause reply filed by him was not satisfactory, without however assigning a single reason whatsoever as to why the same was not found satisfactory. There is no discussion in the order with regard to the plea raised by the petitioner in his show cause reply and why the same did not find favour with the authority. In such circumstances, therefore, it must be held that the impugned order does not amount to a speaking order and is thus violative of the principles of natural justice which cannot be sustained in law.

6. Accordingly, the impugned order contained in Memo No. 441 dated 11.04.2018 (Annexure-3) is hereby quashed and the matter is remanded to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar Gaya to consider and dispose of the matter afresh by a speaking order after grant of opportunity of hearing to the petitioner in accordance with law. Supplies to the petitioner shall be restored without delay until fresh orders are passed by the respondent no. 2.

Patna High Court CWJC No.7745 of 2018 dt.10-05-2018 3/3

7. The writ petition stands allowed as above. (Vikash Jain, J) B.T/Chandran AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.

Uploading Date 23.05.2018 Transmission Date N.A.