Kusum Devi v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.13786 of 2025 ====================================================== Kusum Devi, W/o Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, Resident of Ward No. 28, Danapur Nijamat P.S. Danapur Nijamat, P.S.-District,-Patna. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Bihar, Patna.
2.
The Collector-Cum-District Magistrate, Patna. 3.
The Sub-Divisional Officer Cum-Licensing Authority, Danapur, Dist. Patna. 4.
The Sub-Divisional Welfare Officer, Danapur, Dist.-Patna. 5.
The Block Development officer, Danapur, Dist.-Patna. 6.
The Block Supply Officer, Maner, Danapur, Dist.-Patna. 7.
The Block Supply Officer, Danapur, Urban Area, Dist.-Patna. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Dhananjaya Nath Tiwari, Adv.
For the Respondent/s :
Mr.Standing Counsel (12) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY ORAL ORDER 16-09-2025 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. The present writ petition has been filed for the following relief(s):- "(I) For issuance of appropriate writ/ writs, order/ orders, direction /directions in the nature of certiorari for quashing the order contained in Memo No. 03 dated 04.02.2025 passed by the Learned Sub-Division Officer-cum-Licensing authority Danapur (Patna) by which he has cancelled the PDS license of the petitioner being License No. 03/2016
2/5 on the basis of notice where is no stipulation of proposed cancellation and that too by a cryptic and nonspeaking order. (ii) For issuance of appropriate writ/writs, order/orders, direction /directions in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents to restore the license of the petitioner being License No. 03/2016.
(iii) For other relief/reliefs for which the petitioner is entitled in the eye of law."
3. This Court vide order dated 17.12.2024 passed in CWJC No. 9390 of 2024 on earlier occasion had set aside the order passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer solely on the ground that the show cause notice issued to the petitioner was not in accordance with the Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016. While disposing the CWJC, this Court has specifically directed the Sub-Divisional Officer to issue a fresh show cause notice to the petitioner strictly in compliance with the provisions of Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 and give him an opportunity of filing a fresh explanation to the said show-cause notice and thereafter pass a reasoned order. However the authority has issued a notice dated 16.01.2025 (Annexure (P/8) which does not contain the proposal for cancellation. The copy of the show cause reads as
3/5 under:- प्रेषषित, शश्रीमतश्री ककसकम दप्रेवश्री, रद्द जन षवतरण पणणालश्री षवकप्रेतणा, अनकज्ञषपत संख्यणा - 03/16, वणार संख्यणा- 28, दणानणापकर षनजणामत, पखण्र दणानणापकर, अनकमण्रल दणानणापकर, षजलणा- पटनणा। षवषिय- स्पषश्रीकरण समषपरत करनप्रे कप्रे संबसंध में। पसग C.W.J.C. Case No. 9390 of 2024 (ककसकम दप्रेवश्री बनणाम रणाज्य सरकणार एवसं अन्य) उपयकरक्त षवषियक पणासषनक पत्र कप्रे संबसंध में कहनणा ह षक पखण्र आपूषतर अनषधकणारश्री दणानणापकर कप्रे पत्रत्रांक 108 षदनणाक 15:06:2020 दणारणा पणायश्री गई अषनयषमतणा कप्रे आललोक में इस कणायर्यालय कप्रे आदप्रेश ज्ञणापणाक 331/आ० षदनत्रांक 16.03.2021 दणारणा षबहणार लषकयत सणावरजषनक षवतरण पणणालश्री षनयत्रण (आदप्रेश) 2016 कणा कसंषरकणा 14 (vi), (viii), (xi), (xiv). (xv) (xvi) एवसं 251) (3) कणा दलोषिश्री मणानतप्रे हकए अनकज्ञषपत कलो रदद कर षदयणा गयणा ह। तदलोपरणान्त मणाननश्रीय उच्च कणायणालय, पटनणा दणारणा C.W.J.C.
Case No. 9390 of 2024 षककसकम बचश्री बनणाम रणाज्य सत्कणार एवसं अन्य) में षदनणाक 17.12.2024 कलो आदप्रेषशत षकयणा गयणा ह षक आपकप्रे पक्ष कश्री सकनवणाई कर आदप्रेश पणाषरत कश्री जणाय। उपयकक्त कप्रे आललोक में इस कणायर्यालय कप्रे झणापणाक 21 षदनत्रांक 07.01.2025 दणारणा स्पषश्रीकरण कश्री मत्रांग कश्री गई। तदलोपरणान्त आपकप्रे दणारणा षदनत्रांक 11.01.2025 कलो स्पषश्रीकरण समषपरत षकयणा गयणा, जलो असतलोषिजनक पणायणा गयणा। अततः षवहणार लषकयत सणावरजषनक षवतरण पणणालश्री षनयसंत्रण (आदप्रेश) 2016 कप्रे कसंषरकणा 27 (ii) कप्रे तहत पकनतः अपनणा पक्ष रखनप्रे हप्रेतक मलोकणा षदयणा जणातणा ह। षनदर्देषशत ह षक षदनणाक 20:01.
4/5
4. Having due regard to the earlier order dated 17.12.2024 passed by this Court in CWJC No. 9390 of 2024 and also the Judgment of the larger Bench passed in CWJC No. 21202 of 2021 and analogous cases dated 26.09.2023, this Court has no other option but to set aside the impugned order dated 04.02.2025 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer and remand the matter back to the authority concerned. The authority concerned shall issue a fresh show cause notice strictly in compliance with the provisions of Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 duly giving an opportunity to the petitioner for filing his explanation within a stipulated time. In case the authority is relying on any inquiry report on statements of the beneficiaries the same shall also be enclosed along with the said show cause notice.
After receipt of the explanation by the petitioner, the authority shall pass a reasoned order duly taking into account the explanation submitted by the petitioner. The entire exercise shall be completed as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. It is needless to mention that before passing any order the petitioner shall be given an opportunity of hearing.
5/5 Any order passed shall be communicated to the party.
6. With the above directions, the present writ petition stands disposed of.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J) Bhardwaj/- U