SHIV SHANKER TRANSPORT Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Shri Sanjeev Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel.

(2.) Challenge in the writ petition to the order dtd. 6/1/2024, passed by the Regional Food Controller, Gorakhpur Region, Gorakhpur, the third respondent, whereby the contract awarded to the petitioner for transportation and handling has been cancelled. The security money deposited by the petitioner has been forfeited and the petitioners' firm has been black-listed for the period of 05 years.

(3.) The petitioner no. 1 is a firm which is a Handling/Transportation Contractor, Stage-I, which was engaged by the respondents by means of an agreement dtd. 1/9/2018 for transporting essential commodities and foodgrains from the F.C.I. godown at Arjunha to Ramkola and Nebua Nauragia in District Kushinagar. It is stated that the contract was entered into between the petitioner no. 1- firm and the respondents for the year 2018-19, which extended up till 30/6/2020 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, there were three godowns in Ramkola in the regular use of the Civil Supply Department which included a godown known as Ramraj Chaubey Godown (Smt. Vandana Shukla daughter of Ramraj Chaubey was authorised to realise the rent and utilise the godown by means of a power of attorney dtd. 6/11/2017).