Vibha Kumari v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.22173 of 2018 ====================================================== Vibha Kumari Wife of Chandra Vijay Kumar, Resident of Village- Harpur, Police Station- Motipur, District- Muzaffarpur. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State Of Bihar 2.

The District Magistrate-cum-Chairman, District Level Selection Committee, Muzaffarpur.

3.

The District Supply Officer-cum-Secretary, District Level Selection Committee, Muzaffarpur.

4.

The Sub-Divisional Officer-cum-Licensing Authority, West, Muzaffarpur. 5.

The Block Supply Officer, Motipur, District- Muzaffarpur. 6.

Priyanka Kumari Wife of Chandra Prakash, Resident of Village- Mroha, Post Office and Police Station- Kathaiya, District- Muzaffarpur. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Mani Bhushan Kumar For the Respondent/s :

Mr.S. Raza Ahmad, AAG-5 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 19-08-2025

1. The writ petition is filed for the following reliefs:- "(i) For directing and commanding the respondents to select the petitioner as a Dealer of Fair Price Shop under Public Distribution System for Village and Panchayat Harpur in place of private respondent No. 6 Priyanka

2/5 Kumari as petitioner is most suitable candidate for that.

(ii) For directing and commanding the respondents to cancel the licence of Private respondent No. 6 as it is obtained by illegal way.

(iii) And also for any other relief/reliefs for which petitioner is found to be legally entitled under the facts and circumstances of the case."

2. 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:

32 (iii). Any person aggrieved by an order of the licensing authority denying the issue or renewal of the license to

3/5 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 complaint/application within one month from the

5/5 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.

7. With the above said observations, the Writ petition shall stand disposed of.

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

(G. Anupama Chakravarthy, J) vinita/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 21.08.2025 Transmission Date