D GAUTAMCHAND BHANDARI Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SINCE on same set of facts almost similar relief has been sought, challenging the common order dated 9. 3. 1999, passed by the District Collector, as per directions of Hon'ble the Chief Justice on 17. 12. 1999 in SB Civil Writ Petition No. 3105/1999, all the above writ petitions and criminal revision petitions have been heard together and are being decided by this common order.

(2.) WITH the object of fighting the evil of hoarding and black marketing and such offences various Control Orders including the Rajasthan Trade Articles (Licensing & Control) Order 1980 and the Pulses (Storage Control) Order, 1977 were framed by the State Government. For establishing Warehouses a separate enactment in the same of Rajasthan Warehouse Act, 1958 has also been passed by the State Legislature. Under the above Control Orders read with the provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 necessary action was taken against one of the petitioners - M/s. Om Industries by the Enforcement Officer and about 12947 bags of various pulses, which were illegally and unauthorisedly stored, were seized by the authorities from the godown of the above M/s. Om Industries. Subsequently, application was submitted before the District Collector for confiscating the bags so seized. As per information given notices to respective parties were also issued to find out actual truth. After giving opportunity of hearing and considering the entire record, the District Collector, vide order dated 9. 3. 1999, ordered for confiscation of 11,770 bags of pulses seized from the godown of above company M/s. Om Industries. The claim of various firms, some of whom are also petitioners before this Court, in regard to their respective bags stored in the above godown were rejected by the District Collector.

(3.) THE provisions of various Orders framed by the State Government and the Central Government have not been disputed so far. It is also not disputed that M/s. Om Industries was a registered dealer having licence from the Licensing Authority, Jaipur and its godown F-95, Vishwakarma Industrial Area, Road No. 7, Jaipur was declared as recognised godown. However, as per the licence so issued, there have been various conditions imposed therein. THE above company was not authorised to store goods of other traders in the godown. Even the other traders could not have stored their goods in the godown of M/s. Om Industries without prior permission of the authorities concerned. THE godown of M/s. Om Industries also cannot be treated as a Warehouse since no such licence was issued to the above company i. e. M/s. Om Industries under the Rajasthan Warehouse Act. Various conditions and restrictions have been provided under the above Act. However, since the Godown of the above company was never authorised under the Act to work as Warehouse, the plea of the party in this regard cannot be accepted.