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2008 Supreme(Bom) 291

2008(4) ALL MR 649
IN THE HIGH COUR T OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
A. M. KHANWILKAR, J.
Manda Ashok Patliputra
Versus
The Commissioner of Police, Or. Mumbai & Anr.
Writ Petition No.370 of 2008
Decided On: 21st February, 2008.

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared
Mrs. VEENA THADANI, for Petitioner.
Ms. SMIT A GAIDHANI, AGP, for Respondents.

Headnote:Bombay Police Act, 1951 - Section 151-A-Suspension of licence-Quantum of suspension of licence-A matter prerogative of authority in basis of subjective satisfaction to be reached by that authority-Appellate Authority can consider said issue on its own merits in accordance with law-Not to be influenced by observations made in impugned order in that behalf.-I in agreement with the Petitioner that either the first Authority or the appellate Authority have given sufficient indication in the impugned order as to why it thought it appropriate to direct suspension of the licence for a period of 60 days. I find substance in the grievance made on behalf of the Petitioner that the Appellate Authority has merely affirmed the final order passed by the first Authority, with regard to the length of suspension of licence for 60 days, without independently examining the justification therefor. The Appellate Authority has additionally recorded that such course was necessary from the point of view of maintaining Law and Order, which is not the ground stated in the show cause notice at all. Be that as it may, as the quantum of suspension of licence is a matter which is clearly the prerogative of the authority on the basis of subjective satisfaction to be reached by that authority and the Appellate Authority being final fact finding authority, as per the statutory appeal provided by the provisions of Bombay Police Act, in my opinion, it is appropriate to relegate the Petitioner before the Appellate Authority for the limited purpose of considering the justness and proportionality of the period of suspension of licence, ordered by the first authority. Indeed, the Appellate Authority will be free to consider that even in the past the Petitioner had committed similar breaches necessitating suspension of licence, as a justification for the proposed action. The Appellate Authority is fee to consider the said issue on its own merits in accordance with the law, uninfluenced by the observations made in the impugned order in that behalf of the present order.

JUDGMENT :- Heard Counsel for the parties. Perused the relevant documents on record as well as the Orders passed by the two authorities below.


2. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith by consent of the parties. Ms. Gaidhani waives notice for Respondents.

3. In so far as first contention raised on behalf of the Petitioner that the action initiated by the authority was founded on the stale instances is concerned, that does not commend to me. Indeed, show cause notice refers to 10 cases registered in relation to (he Restaurant operated by the Petitioner, which pertains to period between February, 2003 to August, 2005. However, that is one of the ground on which, action of cancellation of license was proposed.

4. The Authorities have also found that the Petitioner had violated license condition, which was breach of Rule 8(1) of the Rules 1953. The Authorities have concurrently found that the Petitioner permitted third person to conduct the business in her absence. That fact is candidly accepted by the Petitioner not only in the written reply filed to the showcause notice, but also by the husband of the Petitioner, who had appeared on behalf of the Petitioner before the First Authority. as is noted in concluding paragraph-l at page 3.

5. To get over this position. Counsel for the Petitioner would contend that the Petitioner had made grievance at least before the Appellate Authority that no action can be taken against the Petitioner for violation of Rule 8(1) because the Petitioner has already applied to the Authority for grant of permission to appoint Manager, which Application is pending since 22nd December. 2003 before the competent Authority. So long as no order was passed on the said Application, the Petitioner cannot be proceeded for violation of condition of license by invoking Rule 8(1) of the Rules. Indeed, the Petitioner has taken such ground in the Memo of Appeal filed before the Appellate Authority. However, what has been overlooked is that in the written reply filed before the First Authority in paragraph-2 thereof, the Petitioner has admitted the fact that no application for appointment of manager has been filed by her till filing of the said written reply on 18th July, 2006. The Petitioner has then assured that she would be soon appointing manager, however, would take prior permission of the concerned authority in that behalf. Nowhere in this written reply, it is even remotely suggested that there was already pending application of the Petitioner. Significantly, the husband of the Petitioner, who appeared before the First Authority, has candidly accepted the fact that he himself was not in a position to attend the restaurant business due to his in health, whereas the Petitioner who is the license holder is not able to attend the business during odd hours being a woman. Thus understood, it is amply clear that the Petitioner concedes the position that the Petitioner herself is not continually managing the affairs of the restaurant, but is dependant on some other person. Significantly, no permission has been granted to the Petitioner to avail of assistance of any third person, albeit as Manager of the Restaurant. There is no reason to doubt the correctness of the view taken by the two Authorities below that this was a clear case of breach of rule 8(1) of the Rule.

6. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner then contends that the Authorities have proceeded against the Petitioner on the basis of cases, which have ended on account of accused pleading guilty in the respective cases. According to the Petitioner, by virtue of Section 33(w) and Section 110 read with Section ISlA of the Bombay Police Act, those cases could not be reckoned for the purpose of action of terminating license or for that matter suspending the same. There is no substance in this submission. For, Subsection (2) of Section ISlA of the Act stipulates that where an accused person pleads guilty and remits the sum specified, no further proceedings in respec












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