JI SATYA WOMEN SELF HELP GROUP - PENDARI vs STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

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CGHC010135632023 2026:CGHC:38408
NAFR
Digitally
signed by
RAGHVENDRA
JAT
RAGHVENDRA
JAT
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
WPC No. 1919 of 2023
1 - Ji Satya Women Self Help Group - Pendari Through President Smt.
Arti Baghel, W/o Permanand Baghel, Aged About 43 Years, President
Of Ji Satya Women Self Help Group Pendari, R/o Village Pendari, P.S.
And Tahsil Sakari, Distt. Bilaspur (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 ) Bilaspur, Distt. Bilaspur (C.G.).
3 - The Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Takhatpur, Distt. Bilaspur
(C.G.).
4 - The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Bilaspur Distt. Bilaspur (C.G.).
5 - The Food Inspector Takhatpur, Distt. Bilaspur (C.G.).
6 - Govt. Faire Price Shop, Khajuri Nawagaon Through
Operator/president Of Nari Yekta Women Self Help Group Khajuri
Nawagaonkala, P.S. And Tahsil Takhatpur Distt. Bilaspur (C.G.).
... Respondent(s)
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. A.N. Pandey, Advocate.
For Respondent(s)/State : Mr. Shreyansh Mehta, Panel Lawyer.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad
Order on Board
31/08/2026

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1. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for following
reliefs:-
“10.1 That, this Hon'ble court may kindly be pleased to set
aside of the impugned order dated undated 4.2023
ANNEXURE P/1 issued by the respondent no.3.
10.2 That, this Hon'ble court may kindly be pleased to
direct the respondent no.3 to allow to continue of the
petitioner for operating the fair price shop of village-
Pendari Tahsil- Sakari Distt- Bilaspur (CG).
10.3 Any other relief or reliefs may also be granted to the
petitioners which this Hon'ble court deems fit and proper
in the facts and circumstances of the case.”
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner
is running a Fair Price Shop at village Pendari, Gram Panchayat
-Pendari Tahsil : Sakri District - Bilaspur (C.G.). Based on a report
submitted by the Food Inspector-Respondent No.5, wherein
certain deficiencies were found; respondent No.3/SDO (Revenue)
issued a show-cause notice on 17.4.2023, calling for an
explanation from the petitioner as to why proceeding should not
be initiated against him for cancellation of his licence and for
prosecution. She further contended that without granting an
opportunity of hearing or allowing for a reply/explanation to be
submitted by petitioner, the concerned SDO (Revenue) has
passed an impugned order undated 04.2023 Annexure P/1
suspending the allotment of the Fair Price Shop of the petitioner.

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She further contended that under Clause 16 of Chhattisgarh
Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 (for short
“Control Order, 2016), a provision of penalty is provided.
Furthermore, time limit prescribed for conclusion of proceedings
is 3 months for redressal of such cases; hence, no action
suspending the shop ought to have been taken against the
petitioner by the concerned SDO (Revenue). She submits that
similar nature of prayer made by petitioners in WPC No.
683/2023, came to be disposed of vide order dated 5.5.2026
directing the concerned authority to conclude the proceedings
within the stipulated time and till then, order of status quo has
been passed, hence, similar direction may be issued in this
petition as well.
3. Learned counsel for the respondents would not oppose the
submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner.
4. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the petition.
5. Considering the provision under Clause 16(1) of the Control
Order, 2016, which prescribe a time period of 3 months for
concluding the proceedings, respondent No.3/SDO (Revenue) is
directed to conclude the proceedings in terms of Clause 16(1)
within a further period of 30 days from the date of receipt of a
copy of this order.
6. It is further directed that till the proceedings before the concerned
SDO (Revenue) are concluded, no coercive steps shall be taken
against the petitioner.

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7. With the aforesaid observation and direction, the Writ Petition
stands disposed of.
Sd/-
(Amitendra Kishore Prasad)
Judge


Raghu Jat