Shailendra Kumar Bharti v. The State of Bihar
PDS licence – Cancellation – Mere institution of FIR not a valid ground
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna High Court, Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.11555 of 2025, decided 16-09-2025 by A. Abhishek Reddy, J. PDS dealership licence (M-100/2010) cancelled by SDO, Maharajganj on 30.06.2014 solely on the ground of institution of FIR (Maharajganj P.S. Case No. 177/2014); appeal dismissed by Collector, Siwan on 01.07.2024. Held: mere institution of FIR is not a valid ground for cancellation under the PDS (Control) Order, 2001 read with Rule 7 of the notification in G.S.R. No. 1 dated 20.02.2007, relying on Umesh Ram vs. The State of Bihar, AIR 2014 Patna 113. Cancellation order quashed, appellate order set aside, restoration of PDS supplies directed, with liberty to authorities upon any future conviction.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed: order dated 30.06.2014 of the SDO, Maharajganj cancelling PDS licence M-100/2010 quashed; appellate order dated 01.07.2024 set aside; supplies to the petitioner to be restored without delay.