Vikash Chandra Guddu Baba v. The Union Of India And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6514 of 2018 ====================================================== Vikash Chandra Guddu Baba S/o Late Ramashraya Prasad Singh presently residing at Mahatma Gandhi Path, Kurji - Baluper, P.O. - Sadakat Ashram, P.S. - Digha, District - Patna.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The Union of India through the Secretary, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, New Delhi - 110001.

2. The Chief Secretary, Govt. of Bihar, Main Secretariat, Patna - 800015.

3. The Agricultural Production Commissioner-cum-Director, Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, Govt. of Bihar, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.

4. The Secretary, Rural Development Department cum Director, Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, Govt. of Bihar, Old Secretariate, Bailey Road, Patna.

5. The Secretary, Food & Consumer Protection Department-cum-Director, Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, Govt. of Bihar, Old Secretariate, Bailey Road, Patna.

6. The Managing Director, Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, Govt. of Bihar, Khadya Bhawan, Daroga Rai Path, Road No.2, R - Block, Patna.

7. The Special Secretary, Food & Consumer Protection Department-cumDirector, Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, Govt. of Bihar, Old Secretariate, Bailey Road, Patna.

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Vikash Chandra Guddu Baba ( In Person ) For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Lalit Kishore- AG For U.O.I. Mr. Anjani Kumar Sharan, Asstt. S.G. For BSFC Mr. Shailendra Kumar Singh, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) Date : 10-04-2018 Inter alia contending that in the distribution of food stuffs under the Public Distribution System in various districts,

Patna High Court CWJC No.6514 of 2018 dt.10-04-2018 2/3 substandard food stuffs have been distributed and that adequate quantity of food stuffs, as required under the statutory provision, are not being supplied, this application has been filed in public interest.

Available on record is an enquiry report dated 5.12.2017 given by the Secretary, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Departement of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India and the consequential action in the State of Bihar, available from page 53 of the Paper Book, which goes to show that a meeting of Chief Secretary, Chief Minister and other officials was held and in various districts illegalities/irregularities were found and remedial steps are being taken by the State Government, as is evident from the material available on record. That being so, for the present, once the State Government is already seized of the matter and an enquiry is being conducted, we deem it appropriate to direct Respondent Nos.

1, 2 and 5 to look into the grievance of the petitioner with regard to the issue in question and ensure that the illegalities/irregularities pointed out are rectified and action taken against the persons responsible for the illegalities.

Patna High Court CWJC No.6514 of 2018 dt.10-04-2018 3/3 hope that the respondents will look into the grievance and also cause an enquiry into the matter.

For the present, directing the respondents to look into the issue in question and take such action, as is permissible under law, we dispose of the matter and grant liberty to the petitioner to move this Court again if within a reasonable period of time appropriate action in the matter is not taken by the Union of India or the State Government.

(Rajendra Menon, CJ) ( Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, J) K.C.Jha/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N/A Uploading Date 16.04.2018 Transmission Date