Chandra Kishore Thakur v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

Patna High Court CWJC No.12661 of 2014 dt.23-07-2018

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12661 of 2014 =========================================================== Chandra Kishore Thakur Son of Late Tej Narayan Thakur Resident of villageRaghauli, P.S. Bisfi, District- Madhubani. .... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through Collector, Madhubani.

2. The Collector, Madhubani.

3. The S.D.O. Benipatti, District- Madhubani. .... .... Respondent/s =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Vijay Anand,Adv For the Respondent/s : Mr. GP8- MANISH KUMAR =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 23-07-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order contained in memo no. 721 dated 19.10.2012 passed by the SubDivisional Officer, Benipatti and the appellate order dated 24.04.2014 in Supply Appeal Case No. 88/2012-13 passed by the Collector-cumDistrict Magistrate, Madhubani by which the licence of the petitioner's Fair Price shop bearing no. 38/2007 has been cancelled and monthly allotment has been stopped; and further to restore the petitioner's licence.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner makes a short submission to assail the impugned order on the ground that a copy of the enquiry report was not made available to the petitioner and he was never confronted with the same with an opportunity of being heard or adducing evidence in that regard. A specific stand has been taken in para 25 of the writ petition that the impugned order of cancellation of licence has been

Patna High Court CWJC No.12661 of 2014 dt.23-07-2018 passed without providing a copy of the enquiry report to the petitioner, though the same had been relied upon in the impugned order. Such infirmity could not be cured in the appeal as well.

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

5. In the above view of the matter, this Court is satisfied that non-supply of the enquiry report to the petitioner has resulted in violation of natural justice and thus the decision making process stands vitiated. The impugned order dated 19.10.2012 (Annexure-3) and the appellate order dated 24.04.2014 (Annexure-4) are hereby quashed and the matter remanded to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Benipatti for taking decision afresh in the matter after supplying a copy of the enquiry report to the petitioner and granting an opportunity of hearing in accordance with law. Licence of the petitioner shall be restored without delay until fresh orders are passed by the respondent no. 3.

6. It is made clear that in case the stand of the petitioner denying receipt of the enquiry report prior to order of cancellation being passed is found to be incorrect, the respondents shall be at liberty to approach this Court for recall of this judgment.

7. The writ petition stands allowed as above. (Vikash Jain, J) Chandran/BT AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 26.07.2018 Transmission Date NA