Disposed¶28

Luxmi Women Self Help Group - Barwahi v. State of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh HC4 May 2026WPC/683/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

WPC No. 683 of 2023, High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur; Fair Price Shop at village Barwahi, Balrampur-Ramanujganj; suspension order dated 25.01.2023 by SDO (R) after show-cause notice of 19.12.2022; Order 16(1) of the Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 prescribing three-month limit; direction to conclude proceedings within 30 days; interim status quo; petition disposed on 05/05/2026 by Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad; related proceeding WPC No. 1942/2022.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with direction to Respondent No. 3 / SDO (R) to conclude the proceedings within 30 days in terms of Order 16(1) of the Control Order, 2016, and status quo to be maintained until their conclusion. ¶28

Luxmi Women Self Help Group - Barwahi Vs State of Chhattisgarh — Chhattisgarh HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

2026:CGHC:20888

NAFR

AVINASH SHARMA

Digitally signed by AVINASH SHARMA Date: 2026.05.06 10:26:10 +0530

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HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

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WPC No. 683 of 2023

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1 - Luxmi Women Self Help Group - Barwahi Through President Smt. Singaro W/o Shri Ganesh Singh Aged About - 54 Years President Of Luxmi Women Self Help Group - Barwahi R/o Village- Barwahi Block Ramchandarpur Distt Balrampur Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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... Petitioner(s) versus

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1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Food And Civil Supply, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh

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2 - The Collector (Food Department) Balrampur, District - Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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3 - The Sub- Divisional Officer (Revenue) Ramanujganj,, District - BalrampurRamanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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4 - The Food Inspector Ramchandrapur,, District - Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh.

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5 - Govt. Faire Price Shop - Uchruva Block - Ramchandrapur,, District - BalrampurRamanujganj, Chhattisgarh

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... Respondent(s)

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For Petitioner(s) : Shri AN Pandey, Advocate. For State/Res : Shri Soumitra Kesharwani, PL. For Respondent No.5 : Ms. Kusum Lal Chandani appears on behalf of Shri Akath Kumar Yadav, Advocates.

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Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board

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05/05/2026

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Heard.

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Learned counsel for petitioner would submit that petitioner is running a Fair Price

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Shop at village Barwahi District Balrampur Ramanujganj CG. Based on the report submitted by the Assistant Food Inspector that the petitioner is not depositing the amount of food-grains on time, the Sub-Divisional Officer (R) issued a show-cause notice on 19.12.2022 calling explanation from the petitioner that as to why proceeding be not initiated against him for cancellation of licence and of prosecution against him. He contended that without granting opportunity of hearing or for reply/ explanation to be submitted by petitioner, the SDO (R) has the passed an order of suspension of Fair Price Shop of petitioner on 25.01.2023 (Anenxure P/1). He contended that under Order 16 of Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 (for short “Control Order, 2016), provisions of penalty is provided and the time limit prescribed for conclusion of proceeding is provided as 3 months for redressal of such case, hence, no action against petitioner of suspension of shop ought to have been taken by Respondent 3/ SDO (R). He submits that similar nature of prayer made by petitioners therein in WPC No. 1942/2022, came to be disposed of directing the SDO (R) to conclude the proceedings within stipulated time and till then the order of status quo has been passed, hence, similar direction may be issued in this petition as well.

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Learned counsel for the respondents would not oppose the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner.

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Considering the provision under Order 16(1) of the Control Order, 2016, the time period prescribed for concluding the proceedings is of 3 months, the Respondent No. 3/ Sub-Divisional Officer (R) is directed to conclude the proceedings in terms of Order 16(1) of the Control Order, 2016, within a further period of 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. It is further directed that till the

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proceedings before the Respondent No. 3/ SDO (R) are concluded, status quo,

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as it exits today, shall be maintained.

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