Allahabad High Court
NAFIS KHANversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 5 OTHERS
- Decided
Holding
The petition is dismissed because the petitioner failed to file an application as required under Section 31(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Summary
The petitioner, Nafis Khan, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the respondents to grant him permission to sell packed meat of male buffalo from his shop and to consider his applications dated 21‑02‑2026 and 17‑04‑2026. The relief was premised on the requirement under Section 31(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which mandates filing an application with specified particulars and fees before the designated officer. The Court observed that the petitioner had not filed any such application complying with Section 31(3). Consequently, the Court declined to grant the relief, noting that without a compliant application the competent authority could not be compelled to act. The Court, however, directed that if the petitioner files the required application, the authority must decide it expeditiously. The writ petition was therefore dismissed.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner complied with the procedural requirement of filing an application under Section 31(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Whether a writ of mandamus can be issued against the respondents in the absence of a compliant application.
Legislation cited
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — s. 31(3)
Subjects
- Food Safety
- Section 31(3)
- Mandamus
- Writ Petition
- Permission to Sell Meat
- Procedural Compliance
- High Court
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - C No. - 17561 of 2026
Nafis Khan
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
State Of U.P. And 5 Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Suresh Singh Tomer
Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C., Madan Mohan Srivastava
Court No. - 40
HON'BLE SARAL SRIVASTAVA, J.
HON'BLE GARIMA PRASHAD, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner.
2. The petitioner by means of the present writ petition has prayed for the
following relief:-
"i. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing
the respondent no.4 & 5 to grant permission to the petitioner for selling
the packed meet of male buffalo (भैंसा) from his shop situated in Naya
Nagar Pratham, Tehsil Manjhanpur, District Kaushambi after obtaining
the same from Sarkari Support Unnao Slaughter House, District Unnao
within a short stipulated period, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit
and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case.
ii. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the
respondent no.4 & 5 to consider and decide the applications dated
21.02.2026 and 17.04.2026 (Annexure No.2 & 3 to the writ petition)
within a short stipulated period which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit
and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case.
iii. Issue any other writ, order or direction in any other suitable nature
which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper under the facts and
circumstances of the case.
iv. Award the cost of the instant writ petition in favour of the petitioner."
3. Section 31(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (hereinafter
referred to as 'Act, 2006') provides that an application has to be submitted in
the manner containing such particulars and fees as may be specified by
regulations before the designated officer.
WRIC No. 17561 of 2026
2
4. We do not find from the record that any such application has been filed by
the petitioner complying with the requirement of Section 31(3) of the Act,
2006.
5. In such view of the fact, we are not inclined to grant the relief prayed for
by the petitioner.
6. However, in case petitioner submits an application in accordance with the
procedure contemplated under Section 31(3) of the Act, 2006 before the
Competent Authority, it is expected from the Competent Authority to decide
the same expeditiously in accordance with law.
7. Accordingly, with the aforesaid observations, the writ petition is
dismissed.
May 5, 2026
Sattyarth
(Garima Prashad,J.) (Saral Srivastava,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
SATTYARTH ANAND
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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