Patna High Court
Lalan RamversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- A ABHISHEK REDDY
Holding
A show‑cause notice under Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 must disclose the proposal for cancellation and attach the enquiry report; otherwise the notice is invalid and any order based on it must be set aside.
Summary
The petitioner, Lalan Ram, challenged the cancellation of his PDS licence on the ground that the show‑cause notice issued by the Sub‑Divisional Officer neither attached the enquiry report nor mentioned a proposal for cancellation, contrary to Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016. He sought quashing of the cancellation order, restoration of the licence and a stay on the notice. The respondents argued that the writ petition was not maintainable because a revision before the Commissioner was an alternative remedy. The High Court, relying on its earlier judgments in CWJC No.253 of 2014 and CWJC No.21202 of 2021, held that a notice under Rule 27(ii) must contain both the proposal for cancellation and the enquiry report to satisfy natural justice. Consequently, the court set aside the memo dated 11‑09‑2025 and remanded the matter to the Sub‑Divisional Officer to issue a fresh, compliant show‑cause notice. The writ petition was allowed with directions for expeditious compliance.
Issues considered
- Whether a show‑cause notice issued under Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 is invalid if it does not include the enquiry report and a clear proposal for licence cancellation.
- Whether the petitioner has an alternative and efficacious remedy of filing a revision, thereby rendering the writ petition non‑maintainable.
- Whether the cancellation order based on the defective notice can be set aside and the licence restored.
Subjects
- PDS licence
- show‑cause notice
- natural justice
- Rule 27(ii)
- Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System
- licence cancellation
- writ petition
- administrative law
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.17399 of 2025
======================================================
Lalan Ram, Son of Late Kalpati Ram, Damodarpur, Damodarpur, Bhojpur,
Bihar 802166.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies
Department, Bihar, Patna.
2. The Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Bihar, Patna.
3. The Divisional Commissioner, Patna.
4. The District Magistrate, Bhojpur, Arrah.
5. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jagdishpur, Bhojpur.
6. The Block Supply Officer, Shahpur, Bhojpur.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjeev Kr. Mishra, Sr. Adv.
Mrs.Adya Pandey, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Addl. Advocate General (04)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
ORAL ORDER
2 22-01-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. The present writ petition has been filed for the
following relief(s):-
“i. For quashing the order contained in memo
no. 1352 dated 11.09.2025 issued under the
signature of Respondent Sub-Divisional Officer
whereby and where under PDS Licence no. 52
of 2016 of the petitioner was cancelled.
ii. For quashing the order contained in memo
no. 1301 dated 05.09.2025 issued under the
signature of Respondent Sub-Divisional Officer
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whereby and where under the petitioner has
been directed to file showcause for irregularities
found by the Respondent Block Supply Officer
Shahpur.
Iii. For restoring the PDS license no. 52 of
2016 of the petitioner.
iv. during the pendency of the present writ
petition. Notice contained in letter no. 14 dated
08.01.2025 issued vide letter no.14 under the
signature of Block Supply Officer Jagdishpur
may be kept in abeyance
V. Any other order(s) as Your Lordships may
deem fit and proper in the facts and
circumstances of the case be granted to the
petitioner.”
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
petitioner has stated that the Sub-Divisional Officer while
issuing the show cause notice to the petitioner has not enclosed
the enquiry report and there is no proposal for cancellation of
the license in the show-cause notice.
4. Learned counsel has stated that non-mentioning of
the proposal for cancelling his license is contrary to the
provisions of order 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public
Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 (hereinafter referred
to as ‘the Order, 2016’)
5. Further learned counsel has relied on the judgment
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of this Hon’ble Court in CWJC No.253 of 2014 dated
11.03.2015 wherein this Hon’ble Court has held that the non-
supply of the enquiry report along with the show-cause is bad
and against the principle of natural justice and equity.
6. Learned counsel has further stated that petitioner
has taken the above ground in the appeal, but the appellate
authority has not dealt with the above ground and dismissed the
appeal in a mechanical manner.
7. Learned counsel for the petitioner has also relied on
the judgment of the Full Court passed in CWJC No.21202 of
2021 and analogous cases dated 26.09.2023 to buttress his
contention that non-mentioning of the proposed action in the
show-cause notice is bad in law and contrary to Rule 27(ii) of
the Control Order, 2016.
8. Learned counsel has stated in view of the above
mentioned provisions of law and judgments relied by the
petitioner, the impugned order may be set aside and matter
remanded back to the authorities concerned for issuing a fresh
show-cause notice in terms of order 27(ii) of the Control Order,
2016 and also furnish a copy of the enquiry report along with
the said show-cause notice and thereafter take necessary action.
9. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf
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of the respondents has vehemently opposed the very
maintainability of the writ petition and stated that the present
writ petition is not maintainable as the petitioner has an
alternative and efficacious remedy of filing a revision before the
Commissioner. Learned counsel has therefore prayed this
Hon’ble Court to dismiss the present writ petition.
10. This Court in CWJC No.253 of 2014 dated
11.03.2015 held as under:
"In my opinion, irregularities in maintenance
of notice board or maintenance of the stocks
within the premises of the petitioner are too
trivial and cannot form a basis for
cancellation of licence. No doubt there were
other serious charges against the petitioner
regarding non-issuance of cash-memo to the
consumers, distribution of lesser amount of
kerosene oil and non-distribution of food-
grains but surprisingly even while making
such allegations, the names of such
consumers who are dissatisfied by such
action of the petitioner are conspicuously
missing. The allegations are sweeping in
nature without reference to any specific
consumer.
In my opinion the non-supply of
the enquiry report conducted by the District
Level Committee which is the foundation for
issuance of show cause notice placed at
Annexure-1 as well as non-supply of names
of such of the consumers who had
complained against the petitioner as
regarding the irregularities in distribution of
the food-grains or the kerosene oil has
prejudiced the petitioner to file his
purposeful reply and in absence thereof, the
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order impugned in my opinion, are based on
no materials.
Though it was strenuously argued
by Mr. Pandey that in absence of any
response by the petitioner the allegations
would be deemed to have been admitted but
in my opinion even if the show cause reply
was missing, the orders passed by the
statutory authorities having civil
consequences and resulting in cancellation
should reflect application of mind.
Unfortunately it is grossly missing inasmuch
as neither the order of the Licensing
Authority nor the order of the appellate
authority deal with the materials which
formed the basis to drive home the charges.
The orders impugned are indefensible and
cannot be upheld."
11. Further this Hon’ble Court in CWJC No.21202 of
2021 and analogous cases has held as under:
“19. Accordingly, we answer the reference as
under:-
It is mandatory for a licensing authority
issuing a notice under order 27(ii) to a
license to mention that there is a proposal for
cancellation of his license, failing which
such notice cannot be treated to be a valid
notice of giving sufficient opportunity to the
licensee to state his case under order 27(ii) of
the BTPDS Control Order. ”
12. A perusal of the show-cause notice issued to the
petitioner does not reveal that the copy of the enquiry report was
enclosed along with the show-cause notice and that there is no
proposal of the action sought to be taken against the petitioner.
13. Having regard to the above facts and
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circumstances and the law laid down by this Hon’ble Court, the
present CWJC is allowed. The impugned order dated
11.09.2025 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer is set aside.
The matter is remanded back to the Sub-divisional Officer
(Respondent No. 5) for issuing a fresh show-cause notice to the
petitioner strictly in compliance with the provisions of Rule
27(ii) of the Control Order, 2016 and also furnish a copy of the
enquiry report along with the Show Cause Notice to the
petitioner and call for his explanation by giving reasonable time.
14. On such show-cause notice being served, the
petitioner shall file his explanation within the stipulated time.
On receipt of the explanation submitted by the petitioner the
authority concerned shall pass a reasoned orders strictly in
accordance with law duly taking into consideration the
explanation submitted by the petitioner.
15. It is needless to mention that before passing any
orders, the petitioner shall be given an opportunity of hearing.
The entire exercise shall be completed as expeditiously as
possible preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date
of receipt of a copy of this order. Any order passed shall be
communicated to the petitioner.
16. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is
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allowed to the extent indicated above.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J)
Bhardwaj/-
U
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