2026:JHHC:9148 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No. 913 of 2023 ----- Ashok Singh, S/o Late Surendra Singh, R/o Near Godown, Ratu, P.O. & P.s. Ratu, District Ranchi, Jharkhand .... Petitioner(s). Versus 1.The Secretary, Department of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Government of Jharkhand at Project Bhawan, Dhurwa, P.O. & P.S. Dhurwa, District Ranchi 2.The Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, Kutchery Road, P.O. Kutchery, P.S. Lalpur, District Ranchi 3.The District Supply Officer Ranchi, Kutchery Road, P.O. Kutchery, P.S. Lalpur, District Ranchi 4.Block Development Officer, Ratu, P.O. & P.S. Ratu, District Ranchi 5.Block Supply Officer, Ratu, P.O. & P.S. Ratu, District Ranchi … Respondent(s) ------ CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J. ------ For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Nikhil Ranjan, Advocate For the State : Mr. Shishir Suman, AC to AAG-IV …...... 13/ 01.04.2026: Heard, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. Petitioner is aggrieved by the order dated 29.07.2022 contained in Memo No.736/ vk-/ Ranchi, whereby the licence of PDS shop of the petitioner has been cancelled. 3. After hearing the parties, I find that the petitioner is a licencee of a Public Distribution System shop. Some complain was received against him by the office of the Chief Minister for which the Block Development Officer was asked to make an enquiry as some video clippings were circulated showing that black marketing was going on from the shop and some beneficiaries were also misbehaved with. The Block Development Officer made an enquiry and found the allegation to be true. The notice was served to the petitioner and the petitioner filed a reply praying for apology on the ground that his son had misbehaved and, on his behalf, he apologized. The District Supply Officer, thereafter in one line had arrived at a conclusion that his apology is unacceptable, thus, he cancelled the licence. 4. After going through the impugned order, I find that it is the son who has entered into some altercations/ misbehaved. It is also admitted that this petitioner had sought apology for such incident but the respondents has not whispered any ground as to why the apology was not accepted. The respondents simply in the impugned order has mentioned that the apology is unacceptable. Thus, he cancelled the licence. This order is unreasoned arbitrary and can be said to be whimsical. If at all any incident had occurred and the petitioner has sought apology, why the apology is not being accepted should have been dealt with by the respondents. Further, the gravity of the alleged offence and misbehavior also should have been taken note of. From the impugned order there is nothing to suggest as to what was the nature of misbehavior committed by the son of the petitioner. It is also clear from the impugned order that no personal hearing was given to the petitioner. 5. Further from the impugned order, it is clear that since as per the provision of the Jharkhand Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2019, Chapter IV, Clause-xxii, a decision has to be taken within 90 days from the date of suspension of the licence, the respondents hurriedly revoked the licence of the petitioner. Thus, the action is arbitrary. 6. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 29.07.2025 is set aside. The Appellate Order consequently is also set aside. The matter is remanded to the District Supply Officer to hear the petitioner afresh and pass a reasoned order after considering the reply of the petitioner and communicated the same to the petitioner. 7. It is made clear that petitioner will produce the copy of this order to the District Supply Officer within four weeks from today, who will consider the application of the petitioner and give a personal hearing to the petitioner and will try to dispose of the application within a period of ten weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 8. With the aforesaid observation, the instant writ petition stands disposed of. 9. The setting aside of the order passed by the Supply Officer, and the Appellate Authority will not mean that the licence of the petitioner is revived. (ANANDA SEN, J.) 01st April, 2026 R.S./ Uploaded on 02/04/2026