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Judgment
Sudhanshu Dhulia, J
The petitioner before this Court is a resident of Village "Sarkari Shahjahanpur Tehsil Bhagwanpur, District Haridwar" and a ration card holder for the aforesaid village from where he procures foodgrains and other essential commodities from the fair price shop. His grievance is against the fair price shop dealer which is being run by respondent no.4 Smt. Hanifa Begum. The allegations have been made by the petitioner against respondent no.4 that she is charging higher rates, misbehaving with consumers and not opening the fair price shop at the designated time.
For this, however, an inquiry was done, where certain anomalies were detected and the reply of the respondent no.4 was not found to be satisfactory. She was, however, only given a warning and her security amount was forfeited.
Under the facts and circumstances of the case and the findings therein, the respondent no.4 have been let off lightly.
Respondent no.4 who is being represented, however, has challenged the locus standi of the petitioner. He also submits that more than 50 villagers have given an affidavit that they have no grievance against respondent no.4, out of the many card holders. Learned counsel for respondent no.4 submits that she has been running a fair price shop for the last 16 years and is a woman and she has already been given a warning and her security amount has been forfeited.
The objections to the respondents as to his locus are rejected considering that respondent no.4 is a local resident and a fair price shop card holder. In case foodgrains are not being distributed in accordance with law, petitioner would definitely have a grievance. To that extent, the objections of respondent no.4 regarding locus standi of the petitioner is rejected.
However, considering the fact that respondent no.4 has already been given a punishment, District Supply Officer, Haridwar is hereby directed that in future if any complaint is filed against respondent no.4, the District Supply Officer, Haridwar after due inquiry and due process of law shall take appropriate action in accordance with law.
With the aforesaid observation, the writ petition stands disposed.