Sunil v. The State of Bihar through Secretary,Food and Consumer Protection

5. The State of Bihar through Secretary, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Old Secretariat, Patna The District Level Selection Committee, Rohtas at Sasaram through its Chairman The District Magistrate, Rohtas at Sasaram The Sub-Divisional Officer, Rohtas at Sasaram The Block Block Supply Officer, Nokha, Rohtas at Sasaram ... ... Respondent/s

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s For the Respondent/s ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY Mr. Ajay Kumar Tiwari, Adv. Mr. S. Raza Ahmad (AAG-5) : : Date : 19-08-2025 ORAL JUDGMENT

The writ petition is filed for the following reliefs:- (i) For quashing the final selection list issued under the signature of Respondent Nos. 2 to 4 which the name of the other applicants have been selected and recommended for grant of PDS license in Srikhanda Panchayat, within the Block-Nokha District Rohtas at Sasaram without being consider that the petitioner is the Patna High Court CWJC No.8913 of 2019 dt.19-08-2025 suitable candidate in all respects. (ii). Further respondent be directed specially respondent No. 3 to decide the objection filed before him on

08.09.2018 by a reasoned order before grant of PDS license in Srikhanda Panchayat, within the Block-Nokha, District Rohtas at Sasaram.

At this juncture, the Learned counsel for the respondents contended that Section 32(iii) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of appeal and Section 32(vi) of the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 provides for the provision of revision. Section 32(iii) 32(v) and 32(vi) read as follows:

32 (iii). Any person aggrieved by an order of the licensing authority denying the issue or renewal of the license to the fair price shop owner or cancellation of the license may appeal to the District Officer within thirty days of the date of receipt of the order and the District Patna High Court CWJC No.8913 of 2019 dt.19-08-2025 Magistrate shall, as far as practicable, dispose the appeal within a period of sixty days.

Admittedly, from the reliefs prayed for in the writ petition, it is evident that the petitioner has an alternative remedy under the provisions of Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016.

The remedy available under the Act is to prefer an appeal before the District Magistrate. As the District Magistrate is the head of the Patna High Court CWJC No.8913 of 2019 dt.19-08-2025 Selection Committee he cannot review his orders in an appeal. Therefore, the petitioner is directed to file a complaint/application before the Divisional Commissioner.

The Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that he intends to file a representation before the concerned authority, but the limitation period for filing the same has lapsed. He prayed for a direction to the concerned authority to entertain the same in accordance with Section 5 of the Limitation Act.

Taking into consideration that the petitioner has an alternative remedy for filing representation, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to file representation within one month from the date of receipt of this order before the concerned authority. The delay in filing the representation shall be condoned by the authority concerned, and the authority shall dispose of the same within three months from the date of filing of the same.

With the above said observation, the Patna High Court CWJC No.8913 of 2019 dt.19-08-2025 Writ petition is disposed of.

Interlocutory Application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. (G. Anupama Chakravarthy, J) Manish/- AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date Transmission Date NAFR N/A 19.08.2025