JUDGMENT :

SANGEETA CHANDRA, J.

1. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and Shri V. P. Nag, who appears for the State respondents.

2. The petitioner is aggrieved by the order dated 16.01.2021 passed by the Licensing Authority cancelling the Fair Price Shop License and also the order dated 19.11.2021 passed by the Appellate Authority rejecting his Appeal.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that he is Fair Price Shop Licensee of Village Panchayat Golok Kodar, Mauza Lodhpurwa, Vikas Khand Reusa, Tehsil Biswan, District Sitapur for the past several years and no complaint has even been made in respect of distribution of essential commodities to the card holders against him. A false and frivolous complaint was made by some card holders that the petitioner had taken thumb impression of the card holders on the E-POS machine but had not distributed the essential commodities to them. On such complaint an inspection was made on 05.05.2020 and on the basis alleged irregularities in distribution the Supply Inspector lodged the First Information Report under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act on the same day and the petitioner's license was suspended on 07.05.2020. The petitioner