Alok Kumar Vs The State Of Bihar and Ors.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.24538 of 2018

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Alok Kumar Son of Gupteshwar Nath Chaubey Resident of VillageNathopur, Panchayat- Chilbili, P.S.- Kudra, District- Kaimur, Bhabhua

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The State Of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Department, Government of Bihar, Patna

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The Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Government of Bihar, Patna

The Commissioner, Patna Division, Patna

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The District Magistrate, Kaimur, Bhabhua

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The Sub Divisional Officer, Mohaniya

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The Block Supply Officer, Kudra

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Binod Kumar Pal Son of Keshav Pal Resident of Village- Lalapur, Panchayat- Chilbili, P.S.- Kudra District- Kaimur, Bhabhua

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... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Saket Tiwary, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr.Arvind Ujjwal, Advocate : Mr. Dr. Kislay, Advocate ======================================================

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CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT

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Date : 02-09-2025

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1. The writ petition is filed for the following

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reliefs:

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“(i). For setting aside memo No 692 dated 19.09.2018 issued by the Collector-cum-Chairman of District Selection Committee, Kaimur to the extent to which the application of the petitioner for selection as P.D.S. Dealer

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has been wrongly rejected and respondent no. 7 has been appointed.

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(ii). For issuance of direction to appoint the petitioner in place of respondent 7.

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(iii). For any other relief(s) as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice.”

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2. At this juncture, the Learned counsel for the respondents contended that Section 32(iii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of appeal and Section 32(vi) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of revision. Section 32(iii) 32(v) and 32(vi) read as follows:

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“32 (iii). Any person aggrieved by an order of the licensing authority denying the issue or renewal of the license to the fair price shop owner or cancellation of the license may appeal to the District Officer within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order and the District Magistrate shall, as far as practicable, dispose the appeal within a period of sixty days.”

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(v) Till the disposal of appeal pending, the Appellate Authority may direct that the order under appeal shall not take effect for such period as the authority may consider necessary for giving a reasonable opportunity to the other party under sub-clause (4) or until the appeal is disposed of, whichever is earlier.

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(vi) Due to non disposal of the appeal within sixty days by the District Officer or against the order passed in the appeal, a revision may be filed before the Divisional Commissioner. The revision shall be disposed of within two months.

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3. Admittedly, from the reliefs prayed for in

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the writ petition, it is evident that the petitioner has an alternative remedy under the provisions of Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016.

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4. The remedy available under the Act is to

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prefer an appeal before the District Magistrate. As the District Magistrate is the head of the Selection

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Committee he cannot review his orders in an appeal. Therefore, the petitioner is directed to file a complaint/application before the Divisional Commissioner.

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5. The Learned counsel for the petitioner

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contended that he intends to file a complaint/application before the concerned authority, but the limitation period for filing the same has lapsed. He prayed for a direction to the concerned authority to entertain the same in accordance with Section 5 of the Limitation Act.

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6. Taking into consideration that the petitioner has an alternative remedy for filing complaint/application, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to file

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complaint/application within one month from the date of receipt of this order before the concerned

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authority. The delay in filing the

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complaint/application shall be condoned by the authority concerned, and the authority shall dispose

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of the same within three months from the date of

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filing of the same.