KISHORI KUMAR Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD learned counsel for the parties. The petitioner has sought quashing of the Confiscation Case No. 30/2007, pending before the Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh (Respondent No.2), whereunder the said respondent has proceeded to confiscate 320 bags of wheat weighing 160 Quintals, which were alleged to be seized from a Truck bearing no. BR-13G-7455 belonging to the petitioner, who was the transporter for Tandwa Block under the State Food Corporation. The petitioner's case is that he was the transporter of wheat and other food articles engaged for transporting foodgrain from Hazaribagh to Tandwa by Bihar State Civil Supply Corporation Ltd. The truck was intercepted while carrying wheat at Ramgarh Road and the wheat was seized and a case under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act was initiated against him being Hazaribagh Sadar P.S. Case No. 07 of 2007. Simultaneously, a confiscation proceeding being No.30 of 2007 was also initiated for confiscation of the wheat which was seized from the said truck before the Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh. According to the petitioner, the wheat is not an essential commodity as declared under any Control Order issued under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act on the date of alleged occurrence. It is further submitted that the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, which has been relied upon by the respondents in their counter affidavit to support the confiscation of the vehicle, is inapplicable as the vehicle was not used for carrying any essential commodity. As such, the vehicle in question will not fall within the mischief of "diversion" under para 6 of the Control Order, 2001. It is further submitted that Control Order of 2001 has not been notified in the State of Jharkhand. Learned counsel for the petitioner also submits that the wheat, in question, belonging to the Food State Corporation, was duly released by the respondent no. 2 and it is not a subject matter of confiscation any more, as the petitioner was not owner of the seized wheat. According to the petitioner, the vehicle belonging to him also cannot be subjected to confiscation as already stated hereinabove as it was not carrying any essential commodity.

(2.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner has also relied upon the judgment rendered in the case of Kailash Prasad Yadav and another- Vs.- State of Jharkhand & anr. reported in (2007) 5 SCC 769. According to him, as per the said judgment the Control Order of 2001 does not deal with the wheat or its transportation. In such circumstances, the confiscation of the truck of the said appellant, Kailash Prasad Yadav, upheld by the Appellate Authority and by the learned Single Judge of the High Court was set aside and the appeal was allowed. According to him, the petitioner is not a fair price shop owner rather he is a transporter and even criminal proceeding initiated against him, are wholly misconceived.

(3.) HOWEVER , the contention of the petitioner that wheat is not an essential commodity as declared under any Control Order on the date of occurrence is not being denied. From the facts narrated above and after hearing counsel for the parties, it appears that the petitioner being a transporter of foodgrain from State Food Corporation, has been subjected to confiscation proceeding for confiscation of wheat seized from the Truck, in question, under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act. Wheat as it stands is not an essential commodity as no Control Order declared it to be so on the date of occurrence. The vehicle, in question, was meant for transportation of wheat. Para 6(4) and the explanation thereto under the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001, refers to unauthorized movement or delivery of essential commodities within the meaning of diversion. The commodity being transported not an essential commodity, the vehicle itself in question would not be liable to be covered under the mischief of diversion as indicated in clause 6(4) and its explanation under the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001.