2026:JHHC:1928 1 W.P.(C) No. 3278 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(C) No. 3278 of 2025 Sanjay Kumar Singh, aged about 55 years S/o Shri Nand Lal Singh, Resident of Village- Sarugarhu, P.O.- Baihmar & P.S.- Katkamsandi, Dist.-Hazaribag. ….........Petitioner(s) Vrs. 1.The State of Jharkhand 2.The Director Food Corporation State of Jharkhand, P.O. & P.S., Dhurwa, District-Ranchi 3.The Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribag , P.O. & P.S.- Hazaribag, District- Hazaribag. 4.The District Supply Officer, Hazaribag, P.O. & P.S.- Hazaribag. 5.The Block Supply Officer, Katkamsandi, P.O. & P.S.- Katkamsandi, District- Hazaribag. .......... Respondent(s) ….... CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Lalan Kr. Singh, Advocate For the Resp.-State : Mr. Amitesh Kr. Geasen, A.C to AAG-IA 04/27.01.2026 The writ petition has been filed for the following relief(s):- i) For quashing of memo no. 402 dated 30.03.2024 (Annex.-5) by which the Licence No. 09/86 has been suspended by respondent no. 4 whereas the Licence No. of petitioner is 01/86 dated 07/10/86 only on the presumption and suspicion that the petitioner has not distributed the food grains for the Month of February' 24. ii) For quashing of memo no. 81 dated 28.01.2025 (Annex.-12) by which the direction has been given to deposit as a security amount of Rs. 10,38,200/- which is wholly illegal and arbitrary.” 2. The relevant provision has been brought to my notice i.e., Section 28 of the Jharkhand Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2022 (झारखÖड लͯित जन वितरण Ĥणाली (ननयंğण) आदेश,2022 which reads as under: 28. दÖड (i) एकरारनामा अथिा आदेश के ककसी उपबंध के उãलंघन की ǔथथनत मɅ उचित मूãय की दुकान की अनु£ǔतत अनु£ापन पदाचधकारी ɮिारा ननलंबबत अथिा रɮद करते हुए जमा Ĥनतभूनत की राशश जÞत की जा सके गी। यह कक- (क) अनु£ापन पदाचधकारी संबंचधत उचित मूãय की दुकान के दुकानदार को कारण बताओ नोटिस जारी ककये बबना अनु£ǔतत तब तक रɮद नहीं 2026:JHHC:1928 2 W.P.(C) No. 3278 of 2025 कर सकता है जब तक कक उचित मूãय की दुकानधारक को शलखखत मɅ अपना पि Ĥथतुत करने का अिसर न टदया गया हो। (ख) युǔततयुतत अिसर देने के पæिात् अनु£ापन पदाचधकारी कारण सटहत आदेश पाररत कर अनु£ǔतत को ननलंबबत कर सके गा। अनु£ापन पदाचधकारी उचित मूãय की दुकान की अनु£ǔतत को ननलंबबत करने के पæिात् दुकानधारक को युǔततयुतत अिसर देते हुए तथा Ĥाकृ नतक Ûयाय के शसɮधांतो का पालन करते हुए दस टदनɉ के अंदर कारण बताओं नोटिस जारी करेगा। िह सुननǔæित करेगा कक अंनतम आदेश तीन मास के भीतर पाररत ककया जाए।“ 3. Thus, the law is clear that the maximum period of suspension as provided is 90 days. The authority has been mandated to take action within 90 days otherwise the suspension order will not have any legal sanctity. 4. In the present case, suspension order is of 30.03.2024. Although, the proceeding has been initiated but till date it has not been culminated. In the counter affidavit also, no such thing has been brought to notice that the proceeding has been culminated. 5. In that view of the matter, the suspension order dated 30.03.2024 passed by the District Supply Officer, Hazaribag (Annexure-5) is quashed and set aside. 6. The authorities are directed to allot the food grains for distribution. However, they are at liberty to proceed with the pending proceeding and take appropriate decision. 7. With the aforesaid liberty, the present writ petition is disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) 27.01.2026 A. Mohanty Uploaded ____/____/2026