SAJID Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Sri Vishal Tandon, learned counsel along- with Samarth Sinha, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Ashok Mehta, learned Senior Counsel/Additional Advocate General assisted by Sri Vijay Shanker Prasad, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the respondents.

(2.) Since the question of law involved in all petitions are similar i.e., whether the fair price shop license/agreement could be cancelled/suspended on the ground of registration of F.I.R. under Sec. 3/7, Essential Commodities Act, they are being decided by this common judgment.

(3.) Facts in brief as contained in this petition are that the petitioner was fair price shop license holder and his license of fair price shop was suspended by the respondent No. 3/District Supply Officer, Meerut vide its order dtd. 14/9/2018 only on the ground that an F.I.R. under Sec. 3/7 of Essential Commodities Act and 66 of the I.T. Act has been lodged against the petitioner. Aggrieved with the aforesaid order, statutory appeal as provided under Sec. Sec. 13(2) of U.P. Essential Commodities (Regulation of Sale and Distribution Control) Order, 2016 was filed by he petitioner before the respondent No. 2/Commissioner, Meerut Division, Meerut which had been rejected by him vide order dtd. 12/11/2019. Aggrieved with the aforesaid orders, the petitioner has preferred the present petition.