Patna High Court

Ram Bali RamversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 27 January 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: A ABHISHEK REDDY

Holding

The SDO's show‑cause notice was invalid because it did not attach the enquiry report nor state the proposal for cancellation as required by Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016, and therefore the cancellation order must be set aside and a fresh notice issued.

Summary

The petitioner, a fair‑price shop licensee, challenged the cancellation of his license by the Sub‑Divisional Officer (SDO) who issued a show‑cause notice without attaching the enquiry report and without stating a proposal for cancellation, contrary to Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016. The petitioner argued that the notice violated natural justice and that the appellate authority had dismissed his appeal mechanically. The respondents contended 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, held that the SDO’s notice was invalid, set aside the cancellation order, and remanded the matter for issuance of a fresh, compliant show‑cause notice with the enquiry report. The court directed that the petitioner be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard and that the entire process be completed within eight weeks.

Issues considered

Whether the failure to attach the enquiry report and to mention the proposal for cancellation in the show‑cause notice violates Rule 27(ii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 and the principles of natural justice.
Whether the petitioner has an alternative and efficacious remedy of filing a revision before the Commissioner, rendering the writ petition non‑maintainable.
Whether the cancellation order can be quashed and the licence restored on the ground of procedural irregularities.

Subjects

license cancellation
fair price shop
public distribution system
natural justice
show‑cause notice
Bihar
writ petition
quashing order
procedural fairness

Judgment

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.18205 of 2025
======================================================
Ram Bali Ram S/o Mahangu Ram, resident of Village- Baltua, P.S.- Nauhatta,
District- Rohtas.

... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Food and
Consumer Protection, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
2. The District Magistrate, Rohtas at Sasaram.
3. The Sub Divisional Officer, Dihri, District- Rohtas at Sasaram.
4. The District Supply Officer, Rohtas at Sasaram.
5. The Block Supply Officer, Nauhatta Block, District- Rohtas at Sasaram.

... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajay Kumar Sinha, Advocate.
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Government Pleader (18) with
Mr. Viveka Nand Singh, AC to GP 18.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
ORAL ORDER

2 27-01-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The present Writ Petition has been filed for the

following reliefs:-

“(i) To issue an appropriate
order/s, direction/s including a writ
preferably in the nature of Certiorari for
quash the order as contained in Memo
No. 149, dated 22.02.2025 issued by the
learned SDO, Dihri, District-Rohtas at
Sasaram (Hereinafter referred to as
Licensing Authority under the Bihar
Targeted Public Distribution System
(Control) Order, 2016) whereby and
whereunder he has cancel the fair price
shop license of the petitioner for
Patna High Court CWJC No.18205 of 2025(2) dt.27-01-2026
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committing illegality and irregularity in
distribution of food grains amongst to the
consumers and directed to Block Supply
Officer, Nauhatta, Rohtas to tagged the
consumers of petitioner with the nearest
fair price shop dealer.
(ii) To direct the respondent
NO. 3, the SDO, Dihri, Rohtas to restore
the PDS dealership license of the
petitioner henceforth with taking into the
consideration that the same is only
means of earning livelihood.”

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

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.
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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

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
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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 order
impugned in my opinion, are based on no
materials.
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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.
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13. Having regard to the above facts and

circumstances and the law laid down by this Hon'ble Court, the

present CWJC is allowed. The impugned order dated

22.02.2025 in Memo No. 149 passed by the Sub-Divisional

Officer, Dihri, Rohtas at Sasaram is set aside. The matter is

remanded back to the Sub-Divisional Officer 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
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communicated to the petitioner.

16. With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands

allowed to the extent indicated.

(A. Abhishek Reddy, J)
shakir/-

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