Manoj Kumar Ram v. The State Of Bihar And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2066 of 2017 =========================================================== Manoj Kumar Ram, Son of Sri Basudeo Ram, Resident of Village- Dumariya, P.S. Sikarpur, District- West Champaran.
.... .... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Secretary, Food & Civil Supply Department, Old Secretariat, Patna.
2. The S.D.O. Narkatiyaganj, West Champaran.
3. The Block Supply Officer, Narkatiyaganj, West Champaran. .... .... Respondents =========================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Vijay Anand, Advocate For the Respondents : Mr. Upendra Pratap Singh, AC to SC4 =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 30-04-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned counsel for the respondents.
2. The writ petition has been filed for challenging the order dated 30.12.2016 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Narkatiyaganj, West Champaran contained in Memo No. 887 (Annexure-3) whereby and whereunder the PDS licence granted to the petitioner for carrying on the business of a Public Distribution Shop within the Panchayat Dumariya has been cancelled.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that an insufficient opportunity of three days was granted for filing show cause and the impugned order has been passed as the petitioner was unable to file the show cause within the stipulated time. In fact, there is nothing on the record to indicate that the show cause notice had been
Patna High Court CWJC No.2066 of 2017 dt.30-04-2018 2/3 served on the petitioner. It is submitted that the petitioner's case is squarely covered by a decision of this Court in the case of Smt. Fulpati Devi Vs. The State of Bihar, 2013(1) PLJR 718, wherein it has been observed as follows:
"3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner could not know about the notice as she was ill during the period. Hence, she did not file show cause and in her absence the Sub-Divisional Officer passed the impugned order cancelling her licence. He also submits that in appeal petitioner had brought this issue as ground no. (B) in the memo of appeal but the Collector has not considered the same and has brushed aside the ground taken by the petitioner and held that the ground of illness taken by the petitioner appears to be 'Post Thought'. He submits that illness or no illness, only three days time was allowed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, which was very short, and thereafter, he passed final orders within one week, without ensuring that notice was served on her.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner appears to be correct. From the impugned order of the Sub-Divisional Officer also it does not appear that he has taken care to ascertain service of notice was affected on the petitioner or not. The fact that after issue of notice on 16th of November, 2011 he passed final orders on 22nd of November, 2011 without mentioning in his order that the notice had been served on the petitioner, shows that he acted in hot haste."
Patna High Court CWJC No.2066 of 2017 dt.30-04-2018 3/3
4. In the above view of the matter, the impugned order dated 30.12.2016 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Narkatiyaganj, West Champaran contained in Memo No. 887 (Annexure-3) is hereby set aside and the matter is remanded to him to take a fresh decision in the matter after grant of reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner in accordance with law.
5. The writ petition stands allowed.
(Vikash Jain, J) B.T/Ibrar AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.
Uploading Date 24.05.2018 Transmission Date N.A.