IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side Present: - Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subhendu Samanta.

IN THE MATTER OF WPA 26862 of 2023 Md. Samim Vs.

State of West Bengal & ors For the Petitioners : Mr. Nilanjana Adhya, Adv., Md. Maznu Ahmed, Adv., For the State : Mr. M.T.M Siddiqui, Ld. AGP, Mr. Amrita lal Chatterjee Adv.

Reserved on : 10.06.2025 Judgment on : 03.09.2025 Subhendu Samanta, J.

1. Petitioner challenged the action of the respondent authority regarding delivery of FPS dealership license in favour of Respondent 10 and for consideration of his representation dated 6th November, 2023.

2. The brief fact of the matter is that petitioner as well as the private respondents were applied for FPS license in terms of vacancy notification dated 7th January, 2022 issued by SCF&S Chanchol.

3. The authority concern has selected private respondent, the petitioner challenged the selection of the private respondent by filing a writ petition being No. WP 19293/2023. A Co-ordinate Bench of this court vide its judgment dated 17.08.2023 disposed of the writ petition directing the authority concern to consider representation of the petitioner dated 28th April 2023 and to pass a reasoned order. In pursuance to such direction the authority concern has heard petitioner and passed a reasoned order on 14th September 2023 thereby respondent authorities are of opinion that petitioner is not eligible for FPS license, he failed to comply with required criteria of having office space 20 SqFt. But private respondent has fulfilled all criterias for being engaged FPS dealer in respect of instant vacancy, allegation brought against private respondent appear to them as motivated and not through.

4. The petitioner has not challenged the reasoned order but again filed the instant writ petition on several other grounds challenging action of State for issuance of license in favour of respondent No. 10.

5. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the document of possession which was shown by the private respondent that is the lease deed, if properly considered, it would be revealed that the lesser of the said lease deed had no sufficient area, he submits the lesser of the lease deed has leased out a particular area in favour of the private respondent but private respondent has constructed godown which was shown to be more area that it was leased out.

6. He submits that approach road to the godown of the private respondent is also narrow and not fit to carry the ration articles.

He further submits that the size of attached to show room of the private respondent is not according to notification. It is the contention of the petitioner that the petitioner has filed a detail representation through e-mail to the authority on 6th November 2023 regarding the entire materials but the authority concern has not considered the representation.

7. Hence this writ.

8. Learned Counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioner has erroneously shown the godown beyond the area which was leased out in his favour. He further subits that the authority concern has favoured the private respondent. Hence the license granted in favour of the private respondent is required to be cancelled.

9. Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the private respondent submits that the allegation in the writ petition is false and concocted.

10. He further submits that the area which was leased out to the private respondent is sufficient to construct the godwon. He further submits that moreover, at the time of inspection the concerned Inspector has noted area of the godown. At this juncture the present petitioner can not raised a new ground to challenge the license.

11. State respondent used a report in the form of affidavit against writ petition and submits that the authority concern has very categorically considered the document placed by the petitioner as well as the respondent No. 10. After thorough enquiry it appears that the petitioner’s godown is not suitable