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Patna High CourtCWJC/2817/2019disposed

Ajay Kumar Singh v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

2019-06-11Mr. Justice Vikash Jain3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2817 of 2019 ====================================================== Ajay Kumar Singh, aged about 48 years, Gender Male, S/o Sri Padum Singh resident of Village -Khiriyawan, P.S.-Wazirganj, District-Gaya ... ... Petitioner

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Old Secretariat, Patna 2.

The District Magistrate, Gaya 3.

The District Supply Officer, Gaya 4.

The SDO, Sadar Gaya 5.

The Block Supply Officer Town, Gaya ... ... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner :

Mr.Vijay Anand, Advocate For the Respondents :

Mr.Alok Ranjan, AC to AAG 5 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 11-06-2019 This matter has been heard and is being taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself with consent of the parties.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for the following reliefs as formulated by the petitioner. "(i) Challenging the order dated 04.01.2019 passed by District Magistrate Gaya in Supply Appeal Case no. 48/2017 by which the appeal preferred by the petitioner/appellant was rejected and affirming the order of cancellation of PDS License of the petitioner passed by S.D.O. dated 23.9.2017.

(ii) Challenging the order dated 23.09.2017 passed by SDO Sadar Gaya fully contained in Memo No. 600 whereby and whereunder the PDS license being License no. 23/2007 granted to the petitioner for carrying a PDS shop in the Village - Khiriyawan was

Patna High Court CWJC No.2817 of 2019 dt.11-06-2019 2/3 cancelled holding therein that the petitioner has failed to respond over the show cause dated 18.09.2017."

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was granted only three days' time to reply to the show cause notice 18.09.2017 which was clearly insufficient. As such the impugned order has been passed as the petitioner was unable to file the show cause within the stipulated time. In fact, there is nothing on the record to indicate that the show cause notice had been served on the petitioner. It is submitted that the petitioner's case is squarely covered by a decision of this Court in the case of Smt. Fulpati Devi Vs. The State of Bihar, 2013(1) PLJR 718, wherein it has been observed as follows: "

"3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner could not know about the notice as she was ill during the period. Hence, she did not file show cause and in her absence the Sub-Divisional Officer passed the impugned order cancelling her licence. He also submits that in appeal petitioner had brought this issue as ground no. (B) in the memo of appeal but the Collector has not considered the same and has brushed aside the ground taken by the petitioner and held that the ground of illness taken by the petitioner appears to be 'Post Thought'. He submits that illness or no illness, only three days time was allowed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, which was very short, and thereafter, he passed final orders within one week, without ensuring that notice was served on her.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner appears to be

Patna High Court CWJC No.2817 of 2019 dt.11-06-2019 3/3 correct. From the impugned order of the SubDivisional Officer also it does not appear that he has take care to ascertain service of notice was affected on the petitioner or not. The fact that after issue of notice on 16th of November, 2011 he passed final orders on 22nd of November, 2011 without mentioning in his order that the notice had been served on the petitioner, shows that he acted in hot haste."

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

5. In the above view of the matter, the appellate order dated 04.01.2019 passed by the District Magistrate, Gaya in Supply Appeal Case no. 48/2017 (Annexure-4) and the impugned order dated 23.09.2017 (Annexure-3) are hereby set aside and the matter is remanded to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar Gaya (respondent no.

4) to take a fresh decision in the matter after grant of reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner in accordance with law. Licence of the petitioner shall be restored without delay until fresh orders are passed by the respondent no. 3.

5. The writ petition stands allowed as above. (Vikash Jain, J) BT/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.

Uploading Date 15.06.2019 Transmission Date N.A.