Monika Kumari v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.13922 of 2025 ====================================================== Monika Kumari, W/o Krishna Kant Singh, Resident of Adarsh Vihar Colony, Gola Road, Ward No. 21 , P.S. Danapur 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 :

Dr. Md. Raisul Haque, Standing Counsel (10) Mr. Binay Kumar, Adv.

====================================================== 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. 6 Mu/Aa, 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.

25/19 on the basis of notice where is

2/5 no stipulation of proposed cancellation and that too by a cryptic and non-speaking 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. 25/2019.

(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. 9187 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 series) which does not contain the proposal for cancellation. The copy of the show cause reads as

3/5 under:- प्रेषषित, शश्रीमतश्री ममोषनिकका ककमकारश्री, रद्द जनि षवितरण पणकालश्री षविकप्रेतका, अनिकज्ञषपत संख्यका - 25/19 आदर्श षबिहकार ककॉलमोनिश्री, गमोलका रमोड, विकार्श संख्यका- 21, दकानिकापकर षनिजकामत, पखण्र- दकानिकापकर, अनिकमण्रल- दकानिकापकर, षजलका- पटनिका। षविषिय :- स्पषश्रीकरण समषपर्शत करनिप्रे कप्रे संबिसंध में। पसंग :-C.W.J.C. Case No. 9187 of 2024 (ममोषनिकका ककमकारश्री बिनिकाम रकाज्य सरककार एविसं अन्य) उपयकर्शक्त षविषियक पकासंषगक पत्र कप्रे संबिसंध में कहनिका ह षक पखण्र आपूषतर्श पदकाषधककारश्री, दकानिकापकर कप्रे पत्रत्रांक 108 षदनित्रांक 15.06.2020 दकारका पकायश्री गई अषनियषमतका कप्रे आलमोक में इस ककायर्यालय कप्रे आदप्रेर ज्ञकापत्रांक 344/आ० षदनित्रांक 16.03.

2021 दकारका षबिहकार लषकयत सकाविर्शजषनिक षवितरण पणकालश्री षनियसंत्रण (आदप्रेर) 2016 कका कसंषरकका 14 (vi), (viii), (xi), (xiv), (xv), (xvi), एवि 25(i) (र) कका दमोषिश्री मकानितप्रे हकए अनिकज्ञषपत कमो रदद कर षदयका गयका ह। तदमोपरकान्त मकानिनिश्रीय उच्च न्यकायकालय, पटनिका दकारका C.W.J.C. Case No. 9187 of 2024 (ममोषनिकका ककमकारश्री बिनिकाम रकाज्य सरककार एविसं अन्य) में षदनित्रांक 17.12.2024 कमो आदप्रेषरत षकयका गयका ह षक आपकप्रे पक्ष कश्री सकनिविकाई कर आदप्रेर पकाषरत कश्री जकाय। उपयकर्शक्त कप्रे आलमोक में इस ककायर्यालय कप्रे ज्ञकापत्रांक 20 षदनित्रांक 04.01.2025 दकारका स्पषश्रीकरण कश्री मत्रांग कश्री गई। तदमोपरकान्त आपकप्रे दकारका षदनित्रांक 11.01.

2025 कमो स्पषश्रीकरण समषपर्शत षकयका गयका, जमो असंतमोषिजनिक पकायका गयका। अततः षबिहकार लषकयत सकाविर्शजषनिक षवितरण पणकालश्री षनियसंत्रण (आदप्रेर) 2016 कप्रे कसंषरकका 27 (ii) कप्रे तहत पकनितः अपनिका पक्ष रखनिप्रे हप्रेतक ममौकका षदयका जकातका ह। षनिदप्रेषरत ह षक षदनित्रांक 20.

4/5 अनिकमण्रल पदकाषधककारश्री, दकानिकापकर।

4. Having due regard to the earlier order dated 17.12.2024 passed by this Court in CWJC No. 9187 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.

5/5

5. It is needless to mention that before passing any order the petitioner shall be given an opportunity of hearing. 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