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Digitally

signed by

ANURADHA

ANURADHA TIWARI

TIWARI Date:

2026.02.04

17:04:10

+0530 1

2026:CGHC:6249-DB

NAFR

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

WPC No. 456 of 2026

Anshul Jotwani S/o Shri Puran Lal Jotwani Aged About 28 Years R/o H.

No. 136, Near Sindhi Dharam Shala, Ward No. 10, Tilda, District-

Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Sole- Proprietor of M/s Kavita Rice Industries,

Hathbandh, District : Balodabazar-Bhathapara, Chhattisgarh

... Petitioner

versus

1 - Union of India Through The Secretary, Department of Food And

Public Distribution, Room No. 546 C , Krishi Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra

Prasad Road, New Delhi- 110001, Email- secy-food@nic.in

2 - Chairman And Managing Director (C M D) of The Food Corporation

of India (F C I) 16-20, Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi- 110001

3 - General Manager Food Corporation of India, Chhattisgarh Region,

Daldal Seoni, Mowa, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

4 - State of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department of Food, Civil

Supplies And Consumer Protection, Indrawati Bhawan, Nawa Raipur,

Chhattisgarh

5 - Managing Director Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing

Federation Limited (Markfed), 6th Floor, Tower C, Commercial Complex,

C B D, Sector- 21, Block C, Nava Raipur, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

6 - Collector Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara, At, District : Balodabazar-

Bhathapara, Chhattisgarh

7 - District Marketing Officer Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing

Federation Limited (Markfed), Baloda Bazar, District : Balodabazar-

Bhathapara, Chhattisgarh

... Respondents

2

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

For Petitioner : Mr. Rajkamal Singh (through Video

Conferencing) assisted by Mr. Suryapratap

Yuddhveer Singh, Advocate

For Respondent-UOI : Ms. Annapurna Tiwari, Central Government

Counsel

For Respondent-FCI : Mr. R.S. Patel, Advocate

For Respondent-State : Mr. Soumya Rai, Deputy Government

Advocate

For Respondent-Markfed : Mr. Animesh Tiwari, Advocate

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge

Order on Board

Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

0 4 .02.2026

1. Heard Mr. Rajkamal Singh, learned counsel through Video

Conferencing assisted by Mr. Suryapratap Yuddhveer Singh,

learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. Annapurna

Tiwari, learned Central Government Counsel appearing for the

Union of India, Mr. R.S. Patel, learned counsel appearing for Food

Corporation of India, Mr. Soumya Rai, learned Deputy

Government Advocate appearing for the State and Mr. Animesh

Tiwari, learned counsel appearing for Markfed.

2. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner with the

following relief(s):-

“10.1 This honourable Court may please be

3

kind enough in declaring the Chhattisgarh Rice

Custom Milling Order, 2016 as illegal & Ultra-

Vires, the provisions of the Essential

Commodities Act, 1955.

10.2 This honourable Court may please be kind

enough in directing the State of Chhattisgarh to

modify the statutory Custom Milling

Agreements to remove the provisions related to

unilateral appointment of Arbitrator.

10.3 This honourable Court may please be kind

enough in directing the respondents/ State of

Chhattisgarh to open & unseal the petitioner's

Rice Mill.

10.4 This honourable Court may please be kind

enough in directing a detailed inquiry in the

matter by a commissioner appointed by this

honourable Court. 10.5 This honourable Court

may please be kind enough in calling the entire

records from the respondents.

10.6 This honourable Court may please be kind

enough in allowing a cost of Rs.50,000/- per

day with effect from 15.01.2026 on account of

idling losses being incurred by petitioner

because of illegal sealing & locking of

petitioner's Rice Mill.

10.7 This honourable Court may please be kind

enough in costs/ damages and any other relief

deemed fit, in the facts and circumstances of

the case in the interest of justice.”

3. Brief facts of the case, in a nutshell are that The petitioner is the

sole proprietor of a rice mill namely M/s Kavita Rice Industries,

located at Hathbandh, District Baloda Bazar–Bhatapara,

Chhattisgarh, and is engaged