M/s S.S. Prasad and Sons v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court CWJC No.19425 of 2024, decided 20-12-2024; coram K. Vinod Chandran, CJ (authored oral judgment) and Nani Tagia, J. Petitioner M/s S.S. Prasad and Sons (proprietor Reena Devi) vs State of Bihar and police/district authorities; petitioner represented by Indu Bhushan, respondents by P.K. Shahi, A.G. Subject: order dated 24.10.2024 blacklisting the firm forever without any show cause notice. The Advocate General argued no show cause notice was needed since, per his submission, mother and son, proprietors of two different firms, had bid under the same PAN Card and other documents (counsel's submission, not a finding). The High Court held that allegations must be put to the person before any punitive order, per natural justice, deemed the blacklisting order itself a show cause notice, gave the petitioner two weeks to object, promised a personal hearing if requested, and required disposal within two weeks of hearing; no merits view expressed; petition disposed of. Key terms: blacklisting/debarment, show cause notice, principles of natural justice, punitive order, PAN Card bid allegation, writ disposed.