DILIP RAGHUNATH SATAV Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Pansare, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Bubna, learned counsel representing respondent Nos.2 to 6. As per office report, respondent No.8 has sufficiently been served; however, no one appears to have put in appearance on their behalf.

(2.) The petitioner has been running a book stall at Shivaji Nagar Railway Station at Pune since the year 1985. On 5/9/2017 Multi-Purpose Stall (MPS) Policy, 2017 was introduced by the respondents by means of Circular No.61 of 2017 of the same date, which provides for reservation in allotment of the multi-purpose stalls at the railway stations. The petitioner was granted license to run a multi-purpose stall on 27/4/2018 for a period of five years. It is the case set up by the petitioner that out of this five years period, during the period of two years the petitioner could not run the stall on account of the situation caused by the pandemic, Covid- 19. It is further stated by the learned counsel for the petitioner that during this period of two years, there were almost no footfalls in the stall and that it is not only that the frequency of the trains got reduced but the number of passengers also got reduced to the extent that on most of the days there were no passengers at all.

(3.) In these circumstances, the petitioner in March 2023, i.e. before the term of the license expired, made an application to the authorities concerned seeking extension of the term of license. Acceding to the said prayer, the Railway authorities extended the term of license of the petitioner vide order dtd. 26/5/2023 up to 26/6/2023 (with effect from 30/4/2023), whereafter the stall was closed on 26/6/2023 and a certificate of satisfactory performance was also issued to the petitioner.