Urmila Devi vs State Of Bihar And Ors

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the State.

The petitioner has challenged the order dated 01.08.2017 passed by the Sub Divisional Officer-cum-Licensing Authority, Sonepur in the district of

Saran, whereby the license of the petitioner has been cancelled; as well as the order dated 30.07.2018 passed by the District Magistrate, Chapra in

Appeal No. 60 of 2017; and order dated 11.11.2019 passed by the Commissioner Saran Division, Chapra in Supply Revision No. 212 of 2018, whereby

the order of cancellation of the license of the petitioner has been upheld and justified.

The only ground raised on behalf of the petitioner is that all the authorities concerned viz. Licensing Authority, Appellate Authority as also the

Revisional Authority have completely abdicated their function and have passed such orders without adverting to the reply of the petitioner and that

also without giving any reason for differing with the explanation offered by the petitioner.

From the perusal of the order passed by the Licensing Authority, it gets reflected clearly that in view of the show cause reply filed by the petitioner, an

opinion was sought from the Assistant District Supply Officer, Sonepur who had recommended for cancellation of license of the petitioner. The

recommendation of the Block Supply Officer was quoted in verbatim and thereafter the order of cancellation was passed without citing any reason for

accepting the report of the Block Supply Officer. Similar kind of orders have been passed, as stated above, by the Appellate as well as the Revisional

Authority.

This Court regrets to say that such abdication of the powers has left this Court with no option but to set aside all the orders impugned in seriatim.

All the impugned orders in the present petition are therefore set aside.

The matter is remitted to the Licensing Authority-cum-Sub Divisional Officer Saran at Sonepur (Respondent No. 5) to pass a fresh order in

accordance with law within a period of 60 days from the date of production/receipt of a copy of this order.

Since a long time has elapsed, let a fresh notice be served upon the petitioner with reasonable opportunity to him to explain his cause.

Needless to state that this time, a reasoned order shall be passed by the Licensing Authority after adverting to the explanation offered by the

petitioner.

With the aforesaid observation / direction, this petition stands disposed off.