M/S B H Catering v. Union of India & Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Railway catering stall license extension; parity/equal treatment of similarly placed licensees; COVID-19 dies non extension policy (over 300 days vs 100 days); 7-month extension beyond expiry of original/extended license period; subject to payment of license fee; affidavit undertaking to vacate stalls; Article 226 writ petitions; precedents followed: Arvind Kumar W.P.(C) 720/2025 (20.01.2025), Sree Venkateswara Enterprises W.P.(C) 225/2025 (10.01.2025), Manohar Bachani W.P.(C) 12398/2024 (11.09.2024), M/s Mahakal Caters Vijay Jain W.P. No. 29831/2024 (MP HC, 01.10.2024); Delhi High Court; Justice Jyoti Singh; 06.02.2025; W.P.(C) 1460/2025; W.P.(C) 1480/2025; M/s B H Catering; M/s Jayaben Caterers; Union of India; IRCTC-type catering contracts; Special Minor Unit BPL Ahmedabad; stalls at Dehradun, Garhwa Road, Sealdah, Raigarh, Champa stations.
What did the court decide?
Both writ petitions disposed of with a direction that, subject to payment of license fee, the Petitioners shall be allowed to operate their respective catering stalls for a further period of 7 months from the respective dates of expiry of the original/extended license periods, subject to affidavit undertakings to vacate the stalls on expiry of the extended period (affidavits to be filed within three weeks), failing which the Respondents may remove their goods; pending applications stand disposed of.