N SAROJINI Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in the Original Petitions is the appellant in both these writ appeals. The writ appeals are directed against the common judgment of the learned single Judge in O.P. 6194 and 10181 of 1998 dismissing the Original Petitions upholding the impugned orders therein. The brief facts of the case are as follows :

(2.) The appellant petitioner is the licensee of a Wholesale Ration Shop viz; A.W.D. (Authorised Wholesale Depot) No. 16 of Nedumangad Taluk. On receipt of a complaint, the Controller of Rationing, Board of Revenue (CS), Trivandrum inspected the appellant's shop on 1-11-1997 and detected shortage of 241.89 quintals of Fine Boiled Rice and four other irregularities. The Controller suspended the authorisation of A.W.D. as per proceedings No. CS-A5-46146/97 dated 1-11-1997. The case was thereafter referred to the District Collector, Trivandrum who in exercise of the powers conferred under Clause.51(8) of the Kerala Rationing Order passed Ext. P2 order in O.P. No. 6194 of 1998-K finding that there was shortage and that the cost of rice found short as reported by the Controller of Rationing will be recovered from the appellant and the entire security deposit to be forfeited to the Government. The challenge in writ appeal No. 2341 of 1998 is against the aforesaid Ext. P2 order of the District Collector.

(3.) Writ appeal No. 2340 of 1998 is directed against the judgment of the learned single Judge in O.P. 10181/1998 dismissing the same upholding Exts. P6 and P7 orders therein whereby the 3rd respondent viz; the Taluk Supply Officer, Nedumangad, Trivandrum had forfeited the value of 237 quintals of Fine Boiled Rice.