1 2025:CGHC:47094 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPC No. 4864 of 2025 Sukanya Women Self Help Gourinagar Through Secretary Smt. Jyoti Netam W/o Niranjan Netam Aged About 31 Years, Secretary Of Sukanya Women Self Help- Gourinagar R/o Ward No. 13 Gourinagar- Rajnandgaon, P.S- Chilki, Tahsil And Distt- Rajnandgaon (C.G) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- The Secretary, Department Of Food And Civil Supply Mahanadi Bhawan New Raipur, Distt- Raipur (C.G.) 2 - The Collector (Food Department) Rajnandgaon Distt- Rajnandgaon (C.G.) 3 - The Food Officer- Rajnandgaon Distt- Rajnandgaon (C.G) 4 - The Food Inspector- Rajnandgaon Distt- Rajnandgaon (C.G) 5 - President Of Luxmi Mahila Prathmik Upbhokta Bhandar- Rajnandgaon/ Operator Of Govt. Faire Price Shop- Ward No. 13 I.D No. 421001011 R/o Ward No. 13 Rajnandgaon, Distt- Rajnandgaon (C.G) ---- Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. A.N. Pandey, Advocate For State-respondent : Ms. Poorva Tiwari, PL 2 Hon'ble Shri Justice Arvind Kumar Verma Order on Board 15/09/2025 1. Petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs:- “10.1. That this Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to set aside the impugned order dated 02.09.2025 (Annexure P/5) issued by respondent No.3. 10.2 Any other relief or reliefs may also be granted to the petitioner which this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.” 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner runs a fair price shop at Ward No.13, Gouri Ward- Rajnandgaon. On 21.07.2025, Respondent No.3 issued a show-cause notice and several allegations is leveled against petitioner and the petitioner was directed to file reply. He would further contend that a detailed reply was filed by the petitioner and the respondent does not agree with the reply and passed the impugned order. The said impugned order passed by respondent No.3 is contrary to Clause 16(3) of the Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 (for brevity, “the Order, 2016”) which provides that before cancellation of authority letter of fair price shop or forfeiture of whole or part of security, Food Controller or Food Inspector of the District or the Sub-Divisional Officer shall issue notice to the shopkeeper and after giving an opportunity of being heard shall decide within a 3 period of one month from issuance of show cause notice. He would further submit that the petitioner is running the fair price shop which has been allotted in his favour in a proper manner and he has not committed any illegality at all. 3. On the other hand, counsel appearing for the State would submit that on the basis of the report of the Food Inspector, such an irregularities were found and thereafter proper enquiry was conducted and the cancellation order has been passed. The enquiry is still pending under Clause 16(3) of the Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016. Thus, order impugned is warranting to no interference. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record with utmost circumspection. 5. The State of Chhattisgarh has framed the Order, 2016 in exercise of power under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Chhattisgarh Food and Nutritional Security Act, 2012 named as Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order 2016. Order 16 speaks about penalty. The relevant part is read as under : "16. Penalty- (1) If shopkeeper contravenes any provision of agreement, then he shall be liable for suspension or cancellation by the officer authorized for allotment of Fair Price shop. The time limit for redressal of such cases shall not exceed three months. 4 (2) During inspection of the shop, if any irregularity is found, then without prejudice to any action the whole or part of amount deposited by shopkeeper as security, shall be forfeited in favour of the State. (3) Before cancellation of authority letter of Fair Price Shop or forfeiture of whole or part of security, Food Controller or Food Officer of district or Sub- Divisional Officer of sub- division shall issue show cause notice to Fair Price Shopkeeper and after giving an appropriate opportunity of being heard shall decide within a period of a month from issuance of show cause notice." 6. On bare perusal of the aforesaid Clause, it is crystal clear that if shopkeeper contravenes any provision of agreement, then he shall be liable for suspension or cancellation by the officer authorized for allotment of Fair Price shop. In the present case, the authorized officer has suspended the fair price shop of the petitioner and order passed for enquiry which is still pending before the concerned authority. It is also pertinent to mention here that the show cause notice was issued by the respondent No.2 to the petitioner and the petitioner has already been submitted reply. At this juncture, there is no prima facie violation of any rules or regulations. 7. Accordingly, the present writ petition is disposed of. However, respondent No.3 is directed to decide the pending enquiry within 5 ‘30 days’ from the date of receipt of copy of this order in accordance with rules, regulations and law and petitioner is at liberty to file appropriate appeal or petition, if any cause of action arises later on. Sd/- (Arvind Kumar Verma) Judge Vasant