Mahesh v. the State of Karnataka
Public Distribution System licence – compassionate renewal/transfer on death of original licence holder
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench; WP No. 102770 of 2025 (GM-PDS); decided 26.04.2025 by Ms. Justice Jyoti Mulimani. PDS/fair-price-shop licence transfer on compassionate grounds after holder's death: original holder Smt. Anandi Bai died 18.03.2025; son (petitioner Mahesh) applied for compassionate renewal on 07.04.2025; Deputy Director, Food, Civil and Consumer Affairs Department, Belagavi refused via endorsement dated 15.04.2025 (Annexure-C) citing original holder's over-age. Holding: age is no bar to compassionate transfer of licence. Endorsement quashed; mandamus to transfer licence within six weeks. Filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India.
What did the court decide?
Writ Petition allowed: (i) Writ of Certiorari issued quashing the endorsement dated 15.04.2025 issued by the third respondent vide Annexure-C; and (ii) Mandamus issued directing the third respondent to transfer the licence in favour of the petitioner within six weeks from receipt of the certified copy of the order.