MITHILESHWAR PRASAD SINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and counsel for the State.

(2.) In the present case, the petitioner is challenging the order dated 21.10.2011 passed by the S.D.O., Hajipur which has been affirmed by the District Magistrate, Vaishali vide order dated 27.08.2013 in P.D.S. Appeal No. 65/2011 and the Revisional Commissioner, Tirhut Division, Muzaffarpur, vide order dated 15.12.2014 passed in P.D.S. Revision Case No. 484 of 2013, affirmed the two aforesaid orders and, thereby, approved the cancellation of the P.D.S. licence of the petitioner.

(3.) The petitioner is a licence holder, running the PDS shop Patna High Court CWJC No.14902 of 2015 dt.03-08-2017 2 having Licence No. 78/2007, for the period 1.6.2011 to 2.10.2011, he failed to lift the food grain and thus failed to distribute the same to the beneficiaries. On that account, the S.D.O., Hajipur initiated the proceeding against him. The Block Supply Officer vide letter no. 5 dated 25.5.2011 informed the Licensing Authority that the petitioner did not distribute the food grains meant for June, 2011. On the basis of the report, vide no. 647 dated 2.7.2011, a show-cause was demanded from the petitioner within 24 hours but, the same could not be filed. Again the Block Supply Officer vide letter no. 240 dated 22.9.2011 submitted a report that he has not lifted the food grains for five months and he has not followed the instruction circulated from time to time. On that account, the beneficiaries were deprived of the food grains. He was again issued notice of show-cause vide memo No. 1004 dated 1.10.2011, the petitioner filed reply to the showcause vide explanation dated 7.10.2011 mentioning therein that on account of illness of the son there was a financial constraint, on that account, he could not lift the food grains and has also given explanation for failure to file his objection. The S.D.O., Vaishali, being not satisfied with the explanation, rejected the same and placing reliance on the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court cancelled the licence of the petitioner. The petitioner challenged the aforesaid order unsuccessfully at appellate and revisional stage. The Revisional Authority has rejected the revision on two counts, firstly if he has a financial problem on account of illness of his son, how he has lifted the kerosene oil but purposely did not lift the food grains and, thereby, deprived the rightful beneficiaries of the food grains. It has Patna High Court CWJC No.14902 of 2015 dt.03-08-2017 3 further been recorded that if his son was ill and he had financial problem, he should have given prior notice to the licensing authority apprising his condition but, he has remained silent and did not do the needful to allow the state authority to take proper action in the matter.