Baralimari S.S. Ltd. and 23 Ors v. The State of Assam and 4 Ors

ORDER Date : 16-08-2023

There is no representation on behalf of the writ petitioners today on call. On previous date of listing i.e. 10.02.2020, the petitioners' counsel was found absent.

¶2The writ petition is preferred assailing Clause-7(11) and Clause-7(12) of the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015. Clause-7(11) and Clause-7(12) read as under:- "7(11) The State Government shall devise suitable mechanism for transportation of foodgrains from the Corporation godown to the intermediate godown and the door-step delivery of the foodgrains to the fair price shop: Provided that the State Government may also transport foodgrains directly to the fair price shop from the Corporation godown and ensure its door-step delivery to the fair price shop. 7(12) The State Government shall furnish a report on quarterly basis to the Central Government regarding door-step delivery in the format at Annex-III."

¶3Mr. S.R. Baruah, learned Jr. Govt. Advocate, Assam appearing for the respondent Nos. 1 to 4 has referred to a common Judgment and Order dated 21.09.2017 passed in a batch of writ petitions including W.P.(C) No. 6647/2015, to submit that the subject-matter Page No.# 7/8 of the present writ petition appears to be rendered infructuous in the light of the observations made in the said Judgment. He has drawn attention of the Court to paragraphs 21 and 22 of the said Judgment, a copy of which has been annexed to the writ petition as Annexure-E.

¶4Paragraphs 21 and 22 of the Judgment and Order [supra] read as under:- "21. Clauses 7(11) and 7 (12) of the Order of 2015 goes to show that the Stat e Government has been given the liberty to devise suitable mechanism for transportation of foodgrains from the Corporation's godown to the intermediate godown and make door-step delivery of the foodgrains to the fair price shops. Sub clauses (11) and (12) of Clause 7 will be relevant for the purpose of this case and therefore, are quoted herein below for ready reference:- "(11) The State Government shall devise suitable mechanism for transportation of foodgrains from the Corporation godown to the intermediate godown and the doo r-steps delivery of the foodgrains to the fair price shop: Provided that the State Government may also transport foodgrains directly to the fair price shop from the Corporation godown and ensure its door-step de livery to the fair price shop.

(12) The State Government shall furnish a report on quarterly basis to the Central Government regarding the door-step delivery in the format at Annex-III."

¶22A combined reading of section 24(2) of the NFSA 2013, section 3(2)(d) of the Act of 1955 as well as clauses 8(3) of the Order of 2015 leaves no manner of doubt that it is State Governments that have been exclusively vested with the authority and jurisdiction for lifting and delivery of the foodgrains to the FPS. Clauses 7(11) and (12) have been inserted in the Order of 2015 so as to perm it the State Government to devise appropriate mechanism of transportation for ensuring door-step delivery of the food grains to each of the FPS so as to fulfil the obligation cast under section 24(2) of NFSA. It will be significant to note here-in that there was no provision such as clause 7(11) and (12) in the Order of 2001, which has been replaced by the Order of 2015. It is thus distinctively clear that clauses 7(11) and (12) have been incorporated in the Order of 2015 so as to permit the State Governments to bring the operation of the existing PDS networks in alignment with the NFSA. Accordingly, by issuing the impugned NIT, the respondent No 4 has sought to appoint transporters for lifting and transportation of food grains in a two Tier system i.e. from the FCI depot to the WSCS/ GPSS Page No.# 8/8 godown and from such godowns to the assigned FPSs."

¶5In view of the fact that there is no representation on behalf of the writ petitioners on two consecutive occasions and in view of the submission made by Mr. Baruah, learned Jr. Govt. Advocate, Assam in the aforesaid manner, this Court is persuaded to take the view that the petitioners are no longer interested to pursue this writ petition any further. Consequently, the writ petition is dismissed for non-prosecution. The petitioners are, however, at liberty to seek restoration of the writ petition in the event they have any surviving cause of action, by preferring appropriate pleadings.

JUDGE GS Comparing Assistant

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