Rajiya Devi vs State Of Bihar And Ors

This matter has been taken up for hearing through video conference. Learned counsel for the petitioner undertakes that all defects pointed out by

the stamp reporter shall be removed, and compliance with the conditions of the notices of this Court with regard to acceptance of e-filing shall be

made, without delay immediately upon resumption of normal physical functioning of the Court, and in any event within one month thereof.

The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order contained in memo no. 717 dated 18.08.2020 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer,

Sadar, Darbhanga by which licence of the petitioner’s Fair Price shop bearing no. 03/2017 has been cancelled and monthly allotment has been

stopped; and further to restore the petitioner’s licence.

Learned counsel for the petitioner makes a short submission to assail the impugned order on the ground that a copy of the enquiry report was not

made available to the petitioner and she was never confronted with the same with an opportunity of being heard or adducing evidence in that regard.

A specific stand has been taken in para 15 of the writ petition that the impugned order of cancellation of licence has been passed without providing a

copy of the enquiry report to the petitioner, though the same had been relied upon in the impugned order.

Learned counsel for the respondents appears and has been heard.

In the above view of the matter, this Court is satisfied that non- supply of the enquiry report to the petitioner has resulted in violation of natural

justice and thus the decision making process stands vitiated. The impugned order dated 18.08.2020 (Annexure-5) is hereby quashed and the matter

remanded to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Darbhanga for taking decision afresh in the matter after supplying a copy of the enquiry report to the

petitioner and granting an opportunity of hearing in accordance with law. Licence of the petitioner shall be restored without delay until fresh orders are

passed by the respondent no. 3.

It is made clear that in case the stand of the petitioner denying receipt of the enquiry report prior to order of cancellation being passed is found to be

incorrect, the respondents shall be at liberty to approach this Court for recall of this judgment.

The writ petition stands allowed as above.

It is also made clear that in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, any correspondence between the parties may be made through email and that

the petitioner shall be at liberty to request the concerned authority for hearing through video conference. To enable the same, the petitioner shall

furnish her mobile number and e-mail ID on the email address of learned Advocate General not later than by 24.12.2020 for onward transmission to

the concerned authority.

Office shall follow- up to ensure that all defects are removed and compliance with the notices of this Court are made by the petitioner within the

stipulated time provided in para 1 hereinabove, failing which the matter shall be brought to the notice of this Court.