memo of charges. It is further stated that the petitioner was earlier suspended ; but after adopting a liberal attitude, he was given a further chance and the irregularities were found while he was conducting the shop in such circumstances. In an open forum conducted at UP School, Keezhmuri large number of the ration card holders attended and raised serious complaints against the functioning of the ration depot by the petitioner. Since the Department has to protect the interest of the card holders, the department conducted surprise inspections in order to ascertain the genuineness of the complaints and when the complaints were found to be true, they have taken action. The counter affidavit denies contention of the petitioner as to political motivation behind the action against him. According to the respondents, the inspection itself was conducted on the basis of complaints from the ration card holders and when complaints were raised in an open forum against the public distribution system, it was necessary to take action, on detection of irregularities. It was stated that the order of cancellation of license was issued only after considering his contentions in the explanation and in the hearing. The Commissioner of Civil Supplies had also got enquired the complaints received against the petitioner through the Vigilance Officer of the Civil Supplies Department, since the petitioner had in the appeal
