Suman Paswan v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3492 of 2015 =========================================================== Suman Paswan, Son of Late Shivratan Paswan, Resident of Village Gonpura, Post Alampur Gonpura, P.S. Phulwarisarif, District Patna. .... .... Petitioner

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Old Secretariat, Patna.

2. The District Magistrate, Patna, District Patna.

3. The Sub Divisional Officer-cum-Licensing Authority, Patna Sadar, District Patna.

.... .... Respondents =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner : Mr. Rajeev Kumar Labh, Advocate For the Respondents : None =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 14-12-2017 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner.

2. The writ petition has been filed for the following reliefs - "(A) A Certiorari for quashing and setting aside the order passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer-cum-Licensing Authority, Patna Sadar vide Memo No. 152 dated 14.01.2015 contained in Annexure-1 whereby and whereunder licence of the petitioner's Fair Price Shop bearing no. 79/07 has been cancelled.

(B) A mandamus commanding the Respondents to restore the petitioner's licence as before and to make allotment for the petitioner's shop.

(C) Any other relief or reliefs for which petitioner may be found entitled in the fact and circumstances of the present case may be granted".

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner makes a short submission to

Patna High Court CWJC No.3492 of 2015 dt.14-12-2017 2/3 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 paragraph 10 of the writ petition that the impugned order of cancellation of licence has been passed without providing a copy of the enquiry report to the petitioner, though the same had been relied upon in the impugned order.

4. None appears on behalf of the respondents. The stand of the petitioner with regard to non-supply of enquiry report has not been controverted in the counter affidavit.

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 order passed by the Licensing Authority-cum-SubDivisional Officer, Patna Sadar vide Memo No. 152 dated 14.01.2015 (Annexure-1) is hereby quashed and the matter remanded to the SubDivisional Officer, Patna Sadar 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. Supplies to 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

Patna High Court CWJC No.3492 of 2015 dt.14-12-2017 3/3 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) B.T/Chandran AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.

Uploading Date 19.12.2017 Transmission Date N.A.