[2025:RJ-JP:47922]

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 3898/2015 Bherulal Meena S/o Shri Pema Ji, aged about 50 years, R/o Village- Bilakh Kalawat, Gram Panchayat- Gadawat Gorimba, Tehsil- Rishbhadev, District - Udaipur Raj.

----Petitioner Versus

1. Food Commissioner, Food, Civil Supply And Consumer Matters Department, State Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.

2. District Collector, Udaipur.

3. District Supply Officer, Udaipur.

----Respondents For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Keshav Agarwal For Respondent(s) : Mr. Parshant Vijay for Mr. Lokendra Singh Rao HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANAND SHARMA

Order

26/11/2025

1. Petitioner has invoked writ jurisdiction of this Court in order to challenge the order dated 24.03.2008 issued by the District Supply Officer, Udaipur whereby, licence of the petitioner issued under the provisions of Rajasthan Food Grains and Other Essential Articles (Regulation of Distribution) Order 1976 for running a fair price shop has been canceled. He has also challenged the order dated 23.12.2008 passed by the Appellate Authority as well as order dated 01.06.2012 passed by the Revisional Authority dismissing his appeal and revision petitions.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the cancellation order dated 24.03.2008 gives a reference of show cause notice dated 16.11.2007. However, in the show cause notice dated 16.11.2007, the petitioner was directed to explain the deficiencies/shortcomings mentioned in the notice, which were altogether different than the reasons, which have been assigned in the order of cancellation dated 24.03.2008.

3. It is submitted that the deficiencies/irregularities pointed out in the notice are as under:

"1- miHkksDrkvksa dks le; ij [kk|kUu dk miyC/k ugha djok;k tk jgk gSA oDr tkap fnukad 1-11-07 dks nqdku can ikbZ xbZA

2- Fkksd foØsrk jkT; la?k ls fnukad 11-10-07 dks xsgwa o pkoy mBk;k x;k ijra q u rks miHkksDrkvksa dks forj.k fd;k vkSj u gh xksnke esa eky igqapkA

3- izkIr [kk|kUu dk lrdZrk lfefr ds lnL;ksa ls HkkSfrd lR;kiu ugha djok;k x;kA"

Whereas, the reasons assigned for canceling the licence by the District supply officer are as under:

"bl izdkj Mhyj ds }kjk ekg vDVwcj 07 dk Fkksd foØsrk jktl la?k mn;iqj ls izkIr [kk|kUu rFkk dsjkslhu Fkksd foØsrk esa 'kaHkq ,.M dEiuh ls izkIr 1100 yh0 dsjkslhu Hkh forj.k ugha djuk lkjs [kk|kUu o dsjkslhu dks [kqys cktkj esa csp dj Hkkjh equkQk dekuk fl) gksrk gSA bl izdkj Mhyj ds }kjk [kk|kUu/dsjkslhu forj.k esa xaHkhj vfu;ferrk;s dh tkdj mls tkjh izkf/kdkj i= dh fofHkUu 'krksZ]a dk mYya?ku djuk ik;k gSA ,sls Mhyj dk izkf/kdkj i= miHkksDrkvksa ds fgr esa fujLr djuk mfpr gSA vr% Mhyj }kjk nq:i;ksx fd;s x;s chih,y xsgw¡ 28 fDoUVy ,ih,y xsgw¡ nj ls vUrj jkf'k 5880/- :i;s] chih,y pkoy 14 fDoUVy ,ih,y pkoy vUrj jkf'k 3780/-] vUR;ksn; xsgw¡ 27 fDoUVy dh ,ih,y nj vUrj jkf'k 12960/- :i;s o ,ih,y xsgw¡ 10 fDoUVy dk 6800/- :i;s ,oa dsjkslhu 1100 yhVj dk 11000/- :i;s dqofy;k jkf'k 40420/- pkfyl gtkj pkj lkS chl :i;s olwy dh tkrh gSA lkFk gh [kk|kUu dk xaHkhj nq:i;ksx gksus ls lEiw.kZ izfrHkwfr tIr ljdkj dh tkdj izkf/kdkj i= la[;k

476/89 rqjUr izHkko ls fujLr fd;k tkrk gSA "

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits it is clear that notice earlier issued to the petitioner was totally incomplete and fair opportunity of hearing has not been provided to him. The competent authority cannot cancel the licence beyond the reasons as provided in show cause notice dated 16.11.2007. It is also submitted that cancellation order dated 24.03.2008 also refers to an enquiry report, which was also not supplied to the petitioner and thus, non-supply of enquiry report would also amount to violation of principle of natural justice.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner relies upon the order dated 02.11.2011 passed by Coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Narayan Lal Meena Vs. Additional Food Commissioner in S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 14936/2011, in which in the similar circumstances, the cancellation order was quashed with liberty