JAGAN NATH Vs. UOI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS bunch of writ petitions have been filed by the petitioners who have claimed that they were granted licences to work as iron patti packers at different railway stations at Delhi. The petitioners have been holding licences for different periods of almost 25 years since 1982 which have been renewed from time to time. Without any complaint or notice being issued to the petitioners, these licences were terminated by a letter dated 23rd August, 2007 issued by the respondents. This termination has been challenged by all the petitioners on the ground of violation of principles of natural justice, arbitrariness and illegality.

(2.) IN the counter affidavits which have been filed, the respondents have urged that the termination was necessitated inasmuch as certain complaints were received in respect of illegal activities on the part of these petitioners. An allegation has been made that several touts were operating hand in glove with the licenced patti holders.

(3.) ON a consideration of the submissions made before this court, I find that the admitted position is that there has been no communication of any illegal activities or misbehaviour to the petitioners which is the basis of these writ petitions.