BISWAMBHAR BASU Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, whose licence for operating a fair price shop has been terminated, is before this Court seeking quashing of the order of termination. This is the second writ petition in connection with the said shop and the dispute out of which the present proceeding arises dates back to 14th June, 2007. On that date a show cause notice was issued to the petitioner, requiring him to explain as to why proceeding shall not be drawn against him for violation of certain provisions of the West Bengal Public Distribution System (Maintenance & Control) Order, 2003.1 shall refer to this Control Order as the

(2.) The petitioner had responded to the notice denying the allegations. In his reply, the petitioner took a specific stand that the AR Part-I Register was not available because the same was taken by the petitioner to the headquarters to produce the same before one Jamini Kumar Baidya, Deputy Director of Rationing as per his instruction conveyed to the petitioner over telephone. The authority of the first instance under the 2003 Order found the reply of the petitioner inadequate, and in exercise of power under 2003 Order suspended the licence of the petitioner until further order. This order was issued on 5th July, 2007.

(3.) The writ petitioner appealed before the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Food and the Appellate Authority on 9th July, 2007 against the order of suspension. The petitioner, however, was given an opportunity of hearing by the Director of Rationing. On 16th July, 2007, the Director of Rationing passed an order directing continuation of the order of suspension. The petitioner approached the Director General of Food & Principal Secretary, Food & Supplies Department with prayer to set aside the order of the Director of Rationing passed on 12th July, 2007, or for review of the said order. This application was captioned as "Appeal". The Director General, Food and the Principal Secretary, Food & Supplies Department, however, declined to interfere in the matter at that stage. In his order passed on 19th July, 2007, he observed: