Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:93311 Court No. - 33 Case :- WRIT - C No. - 18078 of 2025 Petitioner :- M/S Durbal Aaya Varga Samaj Kalyan Samiti Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Vishal Tandon Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C. Hon'ble Prakash Padia,J. 1. It is argued by counsel for the petitioner that fair price shop license of the petitioner was cancelled only on the ground that an FIR under Section 3/7 Essential Commodities Act, 1955 has been lodged against the petitioner on 05.09.2023 by the respondent no.3-District Supply Officer, Meerut. Aggrieved against the aforesaid statutory appeal under Clause 13 (1) of the U.P. Essential Commodities (Regulation of Sale and Distribution Control) Order, 2016 was filed, which was also rejected by the respondent no.2- Additional Commissioner (fourth), Meerut Division, Meerut vide order dated 17.09.2024 hence present writ petition. 2. It is argued by counsel for the petitioner that the order dated 05.09.2023 was passed by the respondent only on the ground that an FIR has been lodged under Section 3/7 Essential Commodities Act, 1955 against the petitioner after taking prior approval by the District Magistrate. It is further argued that the aforesaid aspect of the matter has already been dealt with by a Coordinate Bench of this Court vide judgement and order dated 11.09.2024, which reads as follows :- "1. Heard Sri Vishal Tandon, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Ravindra Kumar Tripathi, learned Standing Counsel for the State. 2. Brief facts of the case are that petitioner was granted a licence for fair price shop and petitioner was running the fair price shop since long. Proceeding against the petitioner was initiated and the licence of the petitioner was cancelled vide order dated 26.12.2018. Appeal filed by petitioner against the cancellation order dated 26.12.2018 was also dismissed vide order dated 4.3.2021. Hence, this writ petition is filed for following reliefs:- "i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned order dated 04.03.2021 passed by Joint Commissioner Food Saharanpur in appeal no.93/2020-21 and 94/2020-21 and order dated 26.12.2018 and 1.9.2018 passed by District Supply Inspector Muzaffar Nagar. ii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing to the respondent authorities to restore the fare price shop license in favour of the petitioner. iii) Issue a writ, order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case." 3. This Court vide order dated 11.02.2022 entertained the matter and directed the State to file counter affidavit. 4. In pursuance of the order dated 11.02.2022 the pleadings have been exchanged between the parties. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that fair price shop licence of the petitioner has been cancelled in violation of the provisions contained under the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 as well as provisions contained under the U.P. Essential Commodities (Regulation of Sale and Distribution Control) Order, 2016. He next submitted that no preliminary enquiry has been conducted in the matter and the licence of the petitioner has been cancelled on mis-conceived grounds. He submitted that lodging of First Information Report under Section 3/7 of the U.P. Essential Commodities Act 1955 can not be a ground for the suspension or cancellation of the fair price shop licence unless there is proper enquiry in the matter He placed the reliance on the Full Bench Judgment of this Court passed in Misc. Single No. 8033 of 2013. D/d. 26.10.2017 Bajrangi Tiwari Vs. The Commissioner Devi Patan Mandal Gonda And Another in order to demonstrate that on the ground of lodging first information report, fair price shop licence cannot be cancelled. He submitted that in view of the violation of the mandatory provisions contained under the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 and the Control Order, 2016 the impugned orders can not be sustained and are liable to be set aside by this Court. 6. Learned Standing Counsel for the State submitted that proceedings were initiated against the petitioner and it has been found that there was irregularity on the part of the petitioner regarding distribution of essential commodities to the cardholders, as such licence of the petitioner has rightly been cancelled. He submitted that criminal proceeding was also initiated against the petitioner and the First Information Report has been lodged under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 420 of Indian Penal Code as such no interference is required in the matter and the writ petition is liable to be dismissed. 7. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 8. There is no dispute about the fact that petitioner was granted fair price shop licence by the Authorities. There is also no dispute about the fact that under the impugned order, the petitioner's licence has been cancelled and the appeal has also been dismissed. 9. In order to appreciate the controversy involved in the matter a perusal of the Government Order dated 05.08.2019, which is applicable to Rural and Urban Area in respect to the suspension/cancellation of the fair price shop licence will be necessary which is as under:- ससंख्यय/-4/2019/1206/29-6-2019-300 सय/03 टटीसटी पप्रेषक, ओम पकयश वमयर, ववशप्रेष सवचिव, उत्तर पदप्रेश शयसन । सप्रेवय मम, 1- आययक, खयद्य एवसं रसद ववभयग, उ०प०। 2- समस्त जजिलयजधिकयरटी, उत्तर पदप्रेश। 3- समस्त जजिलय पपूवतर अजधिकयरटी, उत्तर पदप्रेश। खयद्य एवसं रसद अनयभयग-6 लखनऊऊः वदनयसंक 05 अगस्त, 2019 ववषयऊः गयमटीण एवसं शहरटी कप्रेत्र ककी उवचित दर ककी दयकयननों कप्रे वनलम्बन /वनरस्तटीकरण एवसं सम्बदटीकरण कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम पवक्रियय कय वनधियररण। महहोदय, उपययरक ववषयक लवकत सयवरजिवनक ववतरण पणयलटी कप्रे अन्तगरत कययररत उवचित दर दयकयननों कप्रे ववरूद पयप्त वशकययतनों ककी जियसंचि एवसं तत्क्रिम मम उनकप्रे ववरुद ससंपयवदत ककी जियनप्रे वयलटी कययरवयवहयनों यथय वनलम्बन, वनरस्तटीकरण एवसं सम्बदटीकरण कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम समय-समय पर वववभन्न शयसनयदप्रेशनों कप्रे मयध्यम सप्रे वनदरश पसयररत वकयप्रे गयप्रे हह। वतरमयन मम लयगपू रयषषटीय खयद्य सयरकय अजधिवनयम-2013 एवसं तत्क्रिम मम जियरटी उत्तर पदप्रेश आवश्यक वस्तय (ववक्रिय एवसं ववतरण वनयसंत्रण कय वववनयमन) आदप्रेश-2016 तथय उत्तर पदप्रेश खयद्य सयरकय वनयमयवलटी - 2015 कप्रे पख्ययपन तथय लयभयजथरयनों कहो आवश्यक वस्तयओसं कप्रे ववतरण मम तकनटीककी अनयपयहोग (पबबलक पहोटरल पर सम्बद लयभयजथरयनों कय ऑनलयइन पदशरन एवसं तदद नयसयर आवसंटन कय ससृजिन तथय ई०पटी०ओ०एस० मशटीननों कप्रे मयध्यम सप्रे करययप्रे जिय रहप्रे ववतरण ) तथय डहोर स्टप्रेप वडलटीवरटी कय कययर पचिजलत हहोनप्रे कप्रे दृवषगत पपूवर मम वनगरत समस्त शयसनयदप्रेशनों कहो अवक्रिवमत करतप्रे हहयप्रे वतरमयन पररदृश्य मम वनम्नवत व्यवस्थय वनवदरष वकयप्रे जियनप्रे कय मयझप्रे वनदप्रेश हहआ हह:- 1- उवचित दर दयकयननों कप्रे ववरूद पयप्त वशकययतनों ककी जियसंचि- (1) उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तयओसं कप्रे ववरूद सयमयन्यतयय आवश्यक वस्तयएएँ पयप्त न हहोनप्रे , ववक्रिप्रे तय दयरय घटततौलटी वकयप्रे जियनप्रे , अजधिक मपूल्य जलयप्रे जियनप्रे, एवसं सपूचिटी मम नयम न हहोनप्रे कय बहयनय बनयकर खयद्ययन्न न दप्रेनप्रे, ई-पपॉस मशटीन मम नप्रेटवकर न आनप्रे सवरर डयउन हहोनप्रे कय बहयनय बनयकर खयद्ययन्न ववतरण कप्रे पपूवर हटी बययहोमप्रेवटषक पमयणटीकरण करयकर लयभयजथरयनों कहो वयस्तव मम खयद्ययन्न न दप्रेकर कयलयबयजियरटी कर लप्रेनप्रे तथय यपूवनट कप्रे सयपप्रेक कम खयद्ययन्न दप्रेनप्रे , कयडर मम दजिर यपूवनटनों कप्रे सयपप्रेक कम यपूवनट कप्रे आधियर फकीड हहोनप्रे कय आधियर लप्रेकर शप्रेष यपूवनटनों कय खयद्ययन्न न दप्रेनप्रे, उपभहोकयओसं सप्रे दयव्यरवहयर करनप्रे , समय सप्रे दयकयन न खहोलनप्रे, आवश्यक सपूचिनयओसं कय पदशरन न करनप्रे , आवद वशकययतम पयप्त हहोतटी हह। वशकययत मयख्यतऊः मय० मयख्यमसंत्रटी हप्रेल्प लयइन , ववभयगटीय टहोल फकी नम्बर /कपॉल सप्रेन्टर, आई०जिटी०आर०एस०, तहसटील वदवस, उप जजिलयजधिकयरटी, जजिलय पपूवतर अजधिकयरटी , जजिलयजधिकयरटी, मण्डलयययक, खयद्ययययक एवसं शयसन पर जलजखत मम डयक दयरय, व्यवकगत रूप सप्रे एवसं दपूरभयष पर पयप्त हहोतटी हह। वशकययतकतयर मयख्यतऊः तटीन पकयर कप्रे हहो सकतप्रे हह , यथय वववशष व्यवक , सम्बबन्धित उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तय सप्रे सम्बद कयडरधियरक एवसं सम्बबन्धित उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तय सप्रे सम्बद लयभयजथरयनों सप्रे वभन्न अन्य शहोत/व्यवकयनों कप्रे स्तर सप्रे पयप्त वशकययतम। (2) उपरहोकयनयसयर पयप्त हहोनप्रे वयलटी वशकययतनों पर कययरवयहटी /जियएँचि कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम वनम्नवत पवक्रियय अपनययटी जिययप्रे- (क) वववशष व्यवकयनों सप्रे पयप्त वशकययतटी पत्रनों कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम कययरवयहटी आरम्भ करनप्रे सप्रे पपूवर सम्बबन्धित वववशष व्यवक कहो पत्र भप्रेजिकर यह पयवष कर लटी जियय वक पत्र उन्हहीं कप्रे दयरय हस्तयकररत हह और वशकययतनों कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम उनकहो समयधियन हहो गयय वक वशकययतम तथ्यनों पर आधियररत हह। (ख) सम्बबन्धित उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तय सप्रे सम्बद कयडरधियरकनों कप्रे स्तर सप्रे पयप्त वशकययतनों पर कययरवयहटी सप्रे पपूवर वशकययतनों ककी पयरबम्भक जियएँचि ककी जियए। उवचित दर दयकयननों कप्रे ववरूद जियएँचि पवक्रियय कप्रे दतौरयन ववक्रिप्रे तय दयरय ई -पपॉस कप्रे मयध्यम सप्रे वकयप्रे गयप्रे ववतरण कय वववरण (एम०आई०एस० ररपहोटर) जिहो पबबलक पहोटरल पर उपलबधि हह, कय ससंजयन अवश्य जलयय जियय। ववक्रिप्रे तय दयरय पदवशरत ववतरण कय वमलयन कयडरधियरकनों कप्रे रयशन कयडर मम दयकयनदयरनों दयरय ककी गयटी पवववषयनों सप्रे भटी वकयय जिय सकतय हह। सयथ हटी वशकययतकतयर व अन्य सम्बबन्धित पकनों कय कथन असंवकत करतप्रे समय उनकय पवतपरटीकण भटी अवश्य वकयय जिययप्रे तयवक जियएँचि कययरवयहटी ककी वनष्पकतय पथम दृषयय स्थयवपत हहो एवसं अनयवश्यक जलवटगप्रेशन ककी बस्थवत उत्पन्न न हहो। (ग) अन्य सहोतनों/व्यवकयनों सप्रे पयप्त वशकययतनों कप्रे सम्बन्धि मम यवद वशकययतटी-पत्र शपथ पत्र सप्रे समजथरत नहहीं हह, तहो वशकययतकतयर सप्रे इस बयरप्रे मम एक शपथ पत्र उपलबधि करयनप्रे कहो कहय जियए और शपथ पत्र पयप्त हहोनप्रे कप्रे उपरयन्त हटी आगप्रे ककी कययरवयहटी ककी जियए। (घ) उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तय कप्रे ववरूद वकसटी एक यय अत्यन्त अल्प ससंख्यय मम उपभहोकयओसं दयरय उवचित दर ववक्रिप्रे तय ककी दयकयन पर जियनप्रे कप्रे बयवजिपूद अपनय अनयमन्य खयद्ययन्न पयप्त न हहोनप्रे ककी बस्थवत मम वप्रे अपनटी वशकययत जजिलय वशकययत वनवयरण अजधिकयरटी कप्रे समक भटी दजिर करय सकतप्रे हह, जिहो वनधियरररत पवक्रियय कय पयलन करतप्रे हहए पकरण कप्रे परटीकणहोपरयन्त उसककी वनयमयनयसयर हकदयरटी/खयद्य सयरकय भत्तय वदलययय जियनय सयवनबश्चित करमगप्रे।" 10. A perusal of the Government Order as quoted above fully demonstrates that preliminary inquiry is to be conducted by the Authorities before suspension/cancellation of the fair price shop licence of the licence holder. 11. Perusal of the aforesaid Government Order dated 05.08.2019 as well as impugned orders and other evidence on record reveals that procedure prescribed under the Government Order has not been followed by the authority and the licence of the petitioner has been cancelled on the ground that first information report has been lodged against the petitioner under Section 3/7 of the U.P. Essential Commodities Act and Section 420 of Indian Penal Code. In full Bench judgment of this Court in Bajrangi Tiwari (Supra) it has been clearly held that fair price shop can not be cancelled merely on the ground of lodging criminal case. 12. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case as well as the ratio of law laid down by the Full Bench of this Court in Bajrangi Tiwari (Supra) impugned order dated 26.12.2018 passed by the respondent no. 3 and appellate order dated 4.3.2021 passed by the respondent no. 2 are liable to be set aside and the same are hereby set aside. 13. The writ petition stands allowed and the respondents are directed to restore the fair price shop licence of the petitioner forthwith. 14. No order as to costs. " 3. It is further argued that the aforesaid judgement has attained finality by the Hon'ble Apex Court by the order dated 21.04.2025 dismissing the Petition for Special Leave To Appeal (C) No.25501 of 2024 filed against the order dated 11.09.2024. The order dated 21.04.2025 passe by the Hon'ble Apex Court reads as follows :- "1. We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and order of the High Court; hence, the special leave petitions are dismissed. 2. Pending application (s), if any, shall stand disposed of." 4. In this view of the matter, it is argued that since identical controversy has already been dealt with and decided in favour of the petitioner by this Court vide judgement and order dated 11.09.2024, which has been attained finality by the Hon'ble Apex Court vide judgement and order dated 21.04.2025 petitioner is also entitled for the same relief. 5. On the other hand this fact is also admitted by the learned Standing Counsel. 6. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 7. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the order dated 19.01.2019 as well as order dated 05.09.2023 passed by the passed by the District Supply Officer, District Meerut and order dated 17.09.2024 passed by the Additional Commissioner (fourth), Meerut are liable to be set aside and the same are hereby set aside. 8. The writ petition is allowed. Respondents are directed to restore the fair price shop license of the petitioner forthwith. Order Date :- 30.5.2025 Pramod Tripathi Digitally signed by :- PRAMOD TRIPATHI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad