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2026:JHHC:8612

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No.1877 of 2023

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Ajay Kumar Singh, son of Tulshi Prasad Singh, resident of Village Geruwa, P.S. Pratappur, P.O. Ghodhaur, District Chatra.

… … Petitioner Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand.

2. Deputy Commissioner, Chatra, P.O. + P.S. & District Chatra. 3. District Supply Officer, Chatra, P.O. + P.S. & District Chatra. 4. Sub Divisional Officer, Chatra, P.O. + P.S. & District Chatra.

5. Circle Officer-cum-Block Supply Officer, Pratappur, P.O. + P.S.

Huntergunj, District Chatra.

… … Respondents ------

CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J.

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For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Vikram Singh, Advocate For the Respondent(s): Mr. Baibhaw Gahlaut, AC to AAG-V

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07/ 25.03.2026

By filing this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for

the following reliefs:-

“(I) To quash/set aside the letter no. 672 dated

18.07.2017 (Annexure-5) which was issued by the Pen and signature of the District Supply Officer, Chatra whereby and whereunder the petitioner’s license having license no. 31/84 was cancelled with immediate effect without any opportunity of hearing given to the petitioner and without jurisdiction and without supplying of inquiry report as well as relevant documents to him which is against the mandate and provision

of law.

(II) To quash/set aside the order dated

22.02.2019 (Annexure-6) passed by the learned Deputy Commissioner, Chatra whereby and whereunder the learned Deputy Commissioner pleased to dismiss the P.D.S.

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License Cancellation Appeal no.19/2018-19.

(III) To quash/set aside the order dated

07.06.2021 (Annexure-7) passed by the learned commissioner, North Chhotanagpur Division, Hazaribagh whereby and whereunder the learned Commissioner pleased to dismiss the P.D.S. License Cancellation Misc. Revision No.110/2019 and not interfering the order passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Chatra on the ground

that Revision is highly time barred.

(IV) For further direction upon the respondents to restore the license no.31/84 of the

Petitioner.”

2. Heard learned counsel representing the petitioner and

learned counsel representing the respondents.

3. It is the grievance of the petitioner that the License which was issued to the petitioner in the year 1984 being License No.31/84 for running the Public Distribution System (P.D.S.) Shop, had been cancelled by the District Supply Officer (D.S.O.), Chatra, vide impugned Letter dated 18.07.2017, without giving opportunity of

hearing to the petitioner.

4. It is the case of the respondents that the petitioner was involved in a criminal case and was an absconder at that point of time, thus his P.D.S. License was cancelled. Further, the Appeal and Revision of the petitioner were also dismissed on the ground of delay. 5. Learned counsel representing the petitioner submits that now the petitioner is on bail, though the criminal case is still pending. 6. Considering the aforesaid submission and also the fact that the petitioner was not heard initially when his P.D.S. License was

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cancelled, I am inclined to set aside the impugned order of cancellation of License as contained in Letter bearing Memo No.672 dated 18.07.2017 (Annexure-5 to the writ petition). The same is

hereby set aside.

6.1. However, the matter is remanded back to the District Supply Officer, Chatra, to pass a fresh order after giving an

opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.

6.2. The petitioner will appear before the D.S.O., Chatra, along with copy of this order, on or before 15^th April, 2026, when a particular date will be fixed by the D.S.O., Chatra, and after hearing

the petitioner, appropriate order will be passed.

6.3. It is made clear that if the petitioner does not appear before the D.S.O. Chatra, within the aforesaid period, this order which I have passed, will not be given effect to and the order

cancelling the License will revive.

7. Be it noted that this order will not amount to restoration

of the P.D.S. License of the petitioner.

8. With the afor