Govardhan Ram v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6628 of 2020 ====================================================== Govardhan Ram Son of Sukhal Ram, Resident of Village- Mahuawa Purvi, Post- Chiraiya, District- East Champaran.

... ... Petitioner

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Food andn Civil Supply Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

2.

The District Magistrate-Cum-Collector, District-East Champaran, Motihari.

3.

The District Supply Officer, Motihari, East Champaran, Motihari. 4.

The Sub- Divisional Officer, Sikarhana, Dhaka, District-, East Champaran, Motihari.

5.

The Block Supply Officer-Cum- Block Development Officer, Dhaka , District- East Chamapran, Motihari.

6.

The Circle Officer, Dhaka, East Champaran, Motihari. ... ... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Vikash Kumar Pankaj, Advocate For the Respondent/s:

Mr. Upendra Pratap Singh, AC to SC-4 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 05-10-2021 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned counsel for the respondents. Learned counsel for the petitioner hereby undertakes to remove all defects pointed out by the Stamp Reporter as and when required. It is accordingly directed that all defects pointed out by the Stamp Reporter be removed within one month hereof.

2. The following reliefs as formulated by the petitioner have been claimed in the writ petition - "(i) To issue writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ order to set aside the order contained in Memo No. 325 dated 14.09.2019 (Annexure-4) whereby respondent no. 4 has cancelled the PDS fair price Shop License No.

Patna High Court CWJC No.6628 of 2020 dt.05-10-2021 2/3 22/07-08 issued to the petitioner primarily for keeping the said PDS shop closed only on 19.06.2019 due to sudden illness of his grandson for which he took him to Dhaka town for his treatment.

(ii) To issue consequential writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ order direction directing the respondents to immediately restore the aforesaid PDS Fair price shop license with supplies, issued to the petitioner."

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 cancellation.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents appears and has been heard.

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

Patna High Court CWJC No.6628 of 2020 dt.05-10-2021 3/3 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. 325 dated 14.09.2019 (Annexure-4) passed by the SubDivisional Officer, Sikarhana, Dhaka, District- East Champaran, Motihari (Respondent No. 4) is hereby quashed and the matter is remanded to him 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. 4.

7. The writ petition stands allowed as above.

8. Office shall follow-up to ensure that all defects are removed and compliance with the notices of this Court are made by the petitioner within the stipulated time provided in para-1 hereinabove, failing which the matter shall be brought to the notice of this Court.

(Vikash Jain, J) Ibrar//- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.

Uploading Date 08.10.2021 Transmission Date N.A.