Satya Narayan Mandal v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Natural justice/non-furnishing of inquiry reports; PDS dealer licence cancellation set aside and matter remanded for fresh reasoned order; show cause notices dated 20.09.2023 and 30.11.2023; replies dated 05.10.2023 and 20.12.2023; inquiry report memo no. 414 dated 25.07.2023; joint enquiry report dated 20.02.2024; cancellation memo no. 148 dated 16.02.2024; Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order; SDO/Licensing Officer Rosera, Samastipur; eight-week completion timeline; surprise inspection by Block Supply Officer.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed: the cancellation order dated 16.02.2024 (memo no. 148) passed by the Licensing Officer-cum-Sub-Divisional Officer, Rosera, Samastipur is set aside; matter remanded for a fresh reasoned decision after giving the petitioner an opportunity to file his explanation, duly considering the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order; exercise to be completed preferably within eight weeks and any fresh order communicated to the petitioner.