Suresh Prasad @ Suresh Prasad Gupta v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12588 of 2018 =========================================================== Suresh Prasad @ Suresh Prasad Gupta son of Arwat Sah, resident of Ward No. 6 Inglishia Balwa More P.S. Bagha, Dist- West Champaran, Bettiah. .... .... Petitioner

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Secretary Food and Civil Supply Government of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna.

2. The District Magistrate, West Champaran, Bettiah.

3. The Sub-Divisional Officer, Bagha, West Champaran, Bettiah. .... .... Respondents =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner : Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, Advocate. For the Respondents : Mr. Arvind Ujjwal, SC-4 =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH JAIN ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 10-07-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 19.04.2017 by which the license no. 3/1989 of the petitioner under Public Distribution System has been cancelled.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner makes a short submission to assail the impugned order on the ground that a copy of the inspection 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-7 of the writ petition that the impugned order of cancellation of licence has been passed without providing a copy of the inspection report to the petitioner, though the same has been relied upon in the impugned order.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents appears and has been heard. The stand of the petitioner with regard to non-supply of

Patna High Court CWJC No.12588 of 2018 dt.10-07-2018 inspection report has not been controverted, as no counter affidavit has been filed till date.

5. In the above view of the matter, this Court is satisfied that non-supply of the inspection report to the petitioner has resulted in violation of natural justice and thus the decision making process stands vitiated. The impugned order dated 19.04.2017 (Annexure-3) is hereby quashed and the matter remanded to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Bagaha West Champaran, Bettiah for taking decision afresh in the matter after supplying a copy of the inspection 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 denying receipt of the inspection 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) Md. Ibrarul/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N.A.

Uploading Date 13.07.2018 Transmission Date N.A.