K.M.BABURAJAN Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE writ petition is filed by the petitioner challenging Ext.P3 order whereby the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited has been appointed as a permanent licensee for conducting the Authorised Wholesale Depot (A.W.D.) No.3 of Kodungallur Taluk. THE petitioner is a licensee of A.W.D.No.9 of Mukundapuram Taluk. Originally, AWD No.3 was conducted by Nattika Rural Bank, Valappad and they surrendered their licence for conducting AWD.No.3 in the year 2000. THE same was attached to A.W.D.No.1 conducted by Consumer Society, Kodungallur. THEreafter, A.W.D.Nos.1 and 3 were attached to A.W.D.No.6 conducted by T.A.Jose & Company, Kodungallur. Later, they also surrendered A.W.D.No.1 and the District Collector issued a fresh notification as per Ext.P1. Some of the Authorised Retail Depots of AWD.No.3 were attached to the petitioner's Authorised Wholesale Depot on a temporary basis.

(2.) IT is the case of the petitioner that for the last six years, the shops of A.W.D.No.3 are attached to the petitioner's shop. According to the petitioner, the entrustment of the Civil Supplies Corporation has no real public interest and, on an earlier occasion the Civil Supplies Corporation was permitted to conduct the distribution of rationed articles to the Authorised Retail Distributors attached to A.W.D.No.6 of Chavakkad Taluk and they informed the Government that they are not willing for the same, and therefore, another applicant had been appointed. Mainly it is pointed out that the petitioner has made all arrangements with sufficient infrastructural facilities like godown, finance and staff for the prompt and uninterrupted distribution of rationed articles.