Manishankar Kumar Singh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8121 of 2019 ====================================================== Manishankar Kumar Singh S/o Shiv Shankar Singh Resident of Vill.- (Vishunpur- Pakdi), P.S.- PhulwariSharif District- Patna. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar Through Principal Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, govt. of Bihar, Patna. 2.

The Chairman District Level Selection Committee, Patna. 3.

The Collector cum District Magistrate Patna.

4.

The District Supply Officer Sadar, Patna.

5.

The Sub- Divisional Officer Sadar, Patna.

6.

The Additional District Supply Officer Patna. 7.

The Block Development Officer Phulwari Sharif, Patna. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Manendra Kumar Sinha, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Arvind Ujjwal (Sc4) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 26-09-2025

1. The present Writ petition is filed for the following reliefs:- "I. For issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing of merit list dated 28/07/2018 and 04/08/2018 by which the respondents authorities have issued the names of proposed candidate for the shop of public distribution system which is Annexure-4 series to this petition.

2/5 II. For necessary direction to the respondent authorities for preparation of a fresh merit list or proposed name for the shop considering the candidature of petitioner's computer qualification in the general category for which he had applied.

III. For any other direction or Directions for which the petitioner is entitled too."

2. The Learned counsel for the petitioner reported to the Court that inspite of making a representation before the District Magistrate, the same was kept pending and no order has been passed as yet.

3. At this juncture, the Learned counsel for the respondents contended that Section 32(iii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of appeal and Section 32(vi) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of revision. Section 32(iii) 32(v) and 32(vi) read as follows:

3/5 "32 (iii). Any person aggrieved by an order of the licensing authority denying the issue or renewal of the license to the fair price shop owner or cancellation of the license may appeal to the District Officer within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order and the District Magistrate shall, as far as practicable, dispose the appeal within a period of sixty days."

32. (v) Till the disposal of appeal pending, the Appellate Authority may direct that the order under appeal shall not take effect for such period as the authority may consider necessary for giving a reasonable opportunity to the other party under sub-clause (4) or until the appeal is disposed of, whichever is earlier.

(vi) Due to non disposal of the appeal within sixty days by the District Officer or against the order passed in the appeal, a revision may be filed before the Divisional Commissioner. The revision shall be disposed of within two months.

4. Admittedly, from the reliefs prayed for in the writ petition, it is evident that the petitioner has

4/5 an alternative remedy under the provisions of Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016.

5. The remedy available under the Act is to prefer an appeal before the District Magistrate. As the District Magistrate is the head of the Selection Committee he cannot review his orders in an appeal. Therefore, the petitioner is directed to file a complaint/application before the Divisional Commissioner.

6. The Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that he intends to file a complaint/application before the concerned authority, but the limitation period for filing the same has lapsed. He prayed for a direction to the concerned authority to entertain the same in accordance with Section 5 of the Limitation Act. 7.

Taking into consideration that the petitioner has an alternative remedy for filing complaint/application, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to file

5/5 complaint/application within one month from the date of receipt of this order before the concerned authority.

The delay in filing the complaint/application shall be condoned by the authority concerned, and the authority shall dispose of the same within three months from the date of filing of the same.

8. With the above said observation, the Writ petition is disposed of.

9. Interlocutory Application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

(G. Anupama Chakravarthy, J) amitkr/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N/A Uploading Date 27.09.2025 Transmission Date N/A