Allahabad High Court
Pradeep Kumar Shukla vs State Of U.P. And 6 Others on 22 March, 2017
Author: Surya Prakash Kesarwani
Bench: Surya Prakash Kesarwani
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD A.F.R. Court No. - 28 Case :- WRIT - C No. - 61176 of 2016 Petitioner :- Pradeep Kumar Shukla Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 6 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Sudhir Dixit,Ajay Kumar Upadhyay Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.,Atul Kumar,Dharam Deo Chauhan Hon'ble Surya Prakash Kesarwani,J.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents and learned counsel for respondent no.7. No one appears on behalf of respondent no.6 even in the revised call. Submission:-
Submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that once the advertisement for settlement of fair price shop by lottery was made on 8.8.2016, then the subsequent proceeding of open meeting of the village panchayat to select a fair price shop agent and approval of such selected fair price shop agent by the respondent nos. 4 and 5, is wholly without jurisdiction and without authority of law. The state respondents have not taken the stand that the advertisement dated 8.8.2016 was illegal and as such the selection of the petitioner by lottery made by the District Level Selection Committee in its meeting dated 4.10.2016 must be given effect. Therefore, the petitioner is entitled for allotment of the fair price shop of Village Panchayat - Amai Paar, Vikas Khand - Kudraha, Tehsil - Sadar, District - Basti. Two parallel proceedings namely the selection by the District Level Selection Committee and meeting of the village panchayat in question for selection of a fair price shop agent, can not be carried.
Learned standing counsel submits that the meeting of the Village Panchayat - Amai Paar was validly held prior to the meeting by the District Level Selection Committee. Pursuant to the proposal of the village panchayat, the Tehsil Level Committee took the decision on 31.8.2016 selecting the respondent no.7 for appointment as fair price shop agent of Village Panchayat - Amai Paar. Inadvertently, name of the Village Panchayat in question could not be deleted from the list of unsettled fair price shops of Village Panchayats of the District and when the error came to notice, the same was rectified. He submits that ordinarily selection of a fair price shop agent could be made only pursuant to the proposal of Village Panchayat in an open meeting. The proposal for selection of an agent for fair price shop by a Village Panchayat in its open meeting represents the will of people which shall always prevail over choice of an individual officer.
Discussion & Findings:-
I have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties.
Briefly stated facts of the present case are that in District - Basti large number of fair price shops were lying vacant mainly because of creation of new Village Panchayats due to delimitation. To facilitate distribution of essential commodities procedure for selection of fair price shop agents in village panchayats have been provided by the Government Order dated 17.8.2002 as under:
"isz"kd] Jh [katu yky izeq[k lfpo m0iz0 'kkluA lsok esa] 1- leLr ftykf/kdkjh mRrj izns'kA 2- leLr ftykiwfrZ vf/kdkjh] mRrj izns'kA [kk| rFkk jln vuqHkkx&6 y[kuÅ% fnukad 17 vxLr] 2002 fo"k;%&lkoZtfud forj.k iz.kkyh ds vUrxZr xzkeh.k {ks= dh mfpr nj dh nqdkuksa ds vkoaVu esa orZeku vkj{k.k O;oLFkk dk;kZfUor fd;s tkus gsrq vkoaVu izkjEHk fd;s tkus gsrq uhfr&funsZ'kA egksn;] 1- mijksDr ds lEcU/k esa 'kklukns'k la[;k&112@29&6&2002&162 lk0@2001] fnukad 10 tuojh] 2001 dk lUnHkZ ysus dk d"V djsa ftlds }kjk jk'ku dh nqdkuksa@isVh Mhty MhylZ dh fu;qfDr@vkoaVu dk LFkfxr j[kus ds funsZ'k fn;s x;s FksA 2- bl LkEcU/k eas eq>s vkils ;g dgus dk funsZ'k gqvk gS fd fo/kk;h vuqHkkx&1 dh vf/klwpuk la[;k 919@l=g&fo&1&2¼d½&3&2002] fnukad 06 twu] 2002 dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq;s 'kklukns'k la[;k&2227@29&6&2001&162 lk0@2001] fnukad 09 vDVwoj 2001 dks vfrdzfer djrs gq;s mfpr nj dh nqdkuksa ds vkoaVu@p;u gsrq fuEu vkj{k.k O;oLFkk rRdky izHkko ls iquZLFkkfir@ykxw dh tkrh gS%& 1- vuqlwfpr tkfr &21 izfr'kr 2- vuqlwfpr tutkfr &02 izfr'kr 3- vU; fiNMs+ oxZ &27 izfr'kr 3- mi;qZDrkuqlkj vkjf{kr Jsf.k;ksa esa fuEufyf[kr gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k Hkh vuqeU; gksxk%& ¼d½ lEcfU/kr vkjf{kr Js.kh dh efgykvksa dks 20 izfr'kr ¼[k½ lEcfU/kr vkjf{kr Js.kh ds yM+kbZ esa ekjs x;s lSfud ds ifjokj ds lnL;] yM+kbZ esa ?kk;y gq;s lSfud ds ifjokj ds lnL;] HkwriwoZ lSfud 08 izfr'krA ¼x½ lEcfU/kr vkjf{kr Js.kh ds Lora=rk laxzke lsukuh mudh iRuh dks 5 izfr'krA ¼?k½ lEcfU/kr vkjf{kr Js.kh ds fodykax O;fDr;ksa dks 02 izfr'krA bl 'kklukns'k ds vuqlkj orZeku esa fjDr nqdkuksa esa vkj{k.k ds izfr'kr dk /;ku j[kk tk;sxk fdUrq mDr izfr'kr dks iw.kZ djus ds fy;s orZeku esa py jgh nqdkuksa dks fujLr ugha fd;k tk;sxkA ;fn dksbZ nqdku fdlh dkj.ko'k fujLr gksrh gS rc ml ij ubZ fu;qfDr ds le; bl 'kklukns'k ds vuqlkj vkj{k.k iw.kZ djus dh dk;Zokgh dh tk;sxhA 1- fodkl [k.M dks ,d ;wfuV ekurs gq;s rglhy esa vkj{k.k dh O;oLFkk dh x.kuk dh tk;sxhA izR;sd fodkl [k.M esa dqy Lohd`r nqdkuksa esa izLrj la[;k 2 ,oa 3 ds vuqlkj vkj{k.k dh x.kuk rFkk fpUghdj.k fd;k tk;sxkA 2- tula[;k ds vojksgh dze ¼fMlafMx vkMZj½ ds vuqlkj ftl izdkj iapk;rh jkTk O;oLFkk esa xzke iz/kkuksa ds inksa esa vkj{k.k O;oLFkk ykxw dh xbZ gS] mlh izdkj vkj{k.k dh O;oLFkk nqdkuksa ds fpUgkadu esa ykxw dh tk;sxhA xzkeh.k {ks=ksa esa jk'ku dh nqdkuksa esa vkj{k.k lqfuf'pr djus gsrq ;gh eq[; vk/kkj gksxkA 3- orZeku esa dk;Zjr nqdkuksa dh ;FkkfLFkfr cuk;s j[krs gq;s ftruh fjfDr;k¡ gS muesa vkj{k.k dh x.kuk fuEukuqlkj dh tk;sxh& ¼d½ dqy Lohd`r nqdkuksa ds lkis{k vkj{k.k 50 izfr'kr rd gh fd;k tk;sxkA ¼[k½ Hkfo"; esa vkjf{kr Js.kh ds vUrxZr fpfUgr nqdkuksa tSls&tSls fjDr gksrh tk;sxh] mudk vkoaVu mlh Js.kh ds vH;fFkZ;ksa dks fd;k tk;sxkA ¼4½ bl lEcU/k esa fnukad 03-07-90 ds 'kklukns'k la[;k 3967@29&[kk|&6 esa nh xbZ 'krsZ Hkh izHkkoh gksxh vkSj ;fn mi;qZDr 'kklukns'k dh 'krsZ rFkk orZeku 'kklukns'k dh fdlh 'kr@izfrcU/k esa fojks/kkHkkl gks rks orZeku 'kklukns'k dh 'krsZ ,oa izfrcU/k izHkkoh gksxsaA ¼5½ xzkeh.k {ks= esa jk'ku dh nqdkuksa ds vkoaVu gsrq fu;ekuqlkj xfBr rglhy Lrjh; lfefr }kjk fd;k tk;sxkA 1- miftykf/kdkjh &v/;{k 2- lEcfU/kr [k.M fodkl vf/kdkjh &lnL;
3- vuqlwfpr tkfr@tutkfr ,oa fiNM+h &lnL;
tkfr dk ,d&,d vf/kdkjh tks ftykf/kdkjh }kjk ukfer fd;k tk;s ¼;fn mi;ZqDr vf/kdkfj;ksa esa ls dksbZ bl oxZ dk gks rks vyx ls ukekadu djus dh vko';drk ugh gksxh½ 4- {ks=h; [kk| vf/kdkjh &lnL;@la;kstd 6- bl 'kklukns'k ds ifjisz{; esa mi;qZDrkuqlkj fodkl [k.M dh oxZokj dqy fjDr nqdkuksa dh la[;k fu/kkZfjr rFkk fpUgkafdr dh tk;saxh rFkk gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k ds vUrxZr efgyk] yM+kbZ esa ekjs x;s lSfud ifjokj ds lnL;@?kk;y lSfud vFkok mlds ifjokj ds lnL;] HkwriwoZ lSfud] LorU=rk lsukuh mudh iRuh rFkk fodykax O;fDr;ksa ds vkj{k.k dks lqfu'pr djus gsrq xzke lHkkvksa dk fpUgkadu fu/kkZfjr izfr'kr rd ykVjh i)fr ds vk/kkj ij gh fd;k tk;sxkA izLrj&3 ds **d** **[k** **x** **?k** gsrq izR;sd ds fy;s dzeokj ,d&,d iphZ rc rd fudkyh tk;sxh tc rd fu/kkZfjr vkj{k.k iw.kZ ugh gks tkrkA 7- xzke lHkkvksa ds mi;qZDrkuqlkj fpUgkadu ds i'pkr xzkeh.k {ks= esa jk'ku nqdkuksa dk p;u xzke lHkk dh [kqyh cSBd esa izLrko ikl djds fd;k tks;xkA rFkk ukeksa dk iSuy mi ftykf/kdkjh dh v/;{krk esa xfBr lfefr dks fu;qfDr gsrq fd;k tk;sxkA ;fn vH;fFkZ;ksa dh la[;k rhu ls de gS rks iSuy esa nks vFkok ,d uke Hkh Hkstk tk ldrk gSA xzkeh.k {ks=ksa esa ;FkklEHko izR;sd xzke lHkk esa ,d jk'ku dh nqdku gksxh vkSj ;fn xzke lHkk esa pkj gtkj ;wfuV ls vf/kd gks rks ,d ls vf/kd nqdku fu;qDr fd;s tkus ij fopkj fd;k tk ldrk gSA 8- fdlh Hkh vkjf{kr Js.kh dh fLFkfr mlh Js.kh ds vH;fFkZ;ksa ls gh fu/kkZfjr izfdz;k ds vuqlkj Hkjh tk;sxh ijUrq fdlh Hkh n'kk esa mDr fjDr vukjf{kr ugh dh tk;sxhA 9- vukjf{kr xzke lHkkvksa gsrq fdlh Hkh oxZ dk vH;FkhZ fu/kkZfjr vkSipkfjdrkvkas dks iw.kZ djds vkosnu dj ldrk gSA 10- xzkeh.k {ks= esa jk'ku dh nqdkuksa dk p;u fuEufyf[kr vfuok;Z vgZrkvkas ,oa 'krksZa dks n`f"Vx.k j[krs gq;s fd;k tk;sxkA ¼d½ vH;FkhZ ds [kkrksa esa de ls de 40 gtkj :i;k miyC/k gks rkfd og viuh nqdku dks vkoafVr ,d ekg dh lkexzh dk ,d ckj esa mBku djus ds fy;s vkfFkZd :i ls l{ke gksA ¼[k½ lkekU; [;kfr vPNh gksA ¼x½ f'kf{kr gks rkfd og nqdku dk fglkc fdrkc lgh :i ls j[k ldsA ¼?k½ vH;FkhZ ds fo:) dksbZ Hkh vkijkf/kd ekeysa iathd`r u gks vkSj u gh og fdlh vkijkf/kd ekeysa esa nf.Mr fd;k x;k gksA ¼M½ vH;FkhZ dh vk;q 21 o"kZ ls vf/kd gks vkSj ifjokj esa fdlh vU; lnL; ds uke dksbZ nqdku vkoafVr u gksA ¼p½ nqdkunkj LFkkuh; fuoklh gksA ¼N½ vH;FkhZ }kjk 1000@& :i;sa dh vusZLV euh dk psd MªkQ~V ftykiwfrZ vf/kdkjh ds i{k esa tek fd;k tk;sxkA mijksDr vusZLV euh nqdkuksa ds vkoaVu dh fLFkfr ess izfrHkwfr jkf'k esa lek;ksftr dj yh tk;sxhA ¼t½ nqdkuksa dh fu;qfDr dh fLFkfr esa vH;FkhZ dks 5000@&:i;s dh izfrHkwfr tek djuh gksxh rFkk 100@&:i;sa dk ukutqfMf'k;y LVkEi isij yxkuk gksxkA ;g izfrHkwfr dsoy u;s fu;qfDr gksus okys nqdku ds vH;fFkZZ;ksa ls yh tk;sxhA ftudh nqdku iwoZ ls gh fu;qDr gS vkSj lapkfyr gS muls u;s nj ij izfrHkwfr ugha tek djok;h tk;sxhA ¼>½ ;fn nqdkunkj vPNh [;kfr dk gks rks mldh e`R;q ds mijkUr nqdku dk vkoaVu mlds vkfJr dks djus ij fopkj fd;k tk ldrk gSA vkfJr dk rkRi;Z iRuh] iq= rFkk vfookfgr iq=h ls gSA 11- xzkeh.k {ks= eas tgkW xzke lHkk izLrko ugh ikfjr djrh gSS vFkok tgk¡&tgk¡ izLrko esa fookn mRiUu gks tkrk gS tufgr esa ,sls xzke lHkk ds fy;s ftykf/kdkjh dks ;g vf/kdkj gksxk fd og 'kklukns'kksa ds funsZ'kksa ds vuqlkj mi ftykf/kdkjh dh v/;{krk esa xfBr lfefr dh laLrqfr ij nqdku ds vkoaVu dk funsZ'k ns ldrs gSA 12- ftykiwfrZ vf/kdkjh dks ;g vf/kdj gksxk fd xzkeh.k {ks= dh nqdkuksa dk fujh{k.k rFkk vfu;ferrk ik;s tkus ij nqdkuknkjksa ds fo:) n.MkRed dk;Zokgh dj ldrs gSA 13- forj.k esa vfu;ferrk ik;s tkus ij jk'ku dh nqdku utnhdh xzkelHkk dh nqdkunkj ls lEc) dh tk;sxhA ftl iwoZ xzkelHkk esa nqdku dk;Z'khy Fkh mlh xzkelHkk ds iz/kku ij fu;r LFky@frfFk dks lEc) nqdkunkj }kjk [kk|kUu] phuh] feV~Vh dk rsy dk ekfld forj.k lqfuf'pr djk;k tk;sxkA nksuksa xzke lHkkvksa esa vko';d lkexzh dk forj.k djus gsrq fu;r fnolksa esa lEcfU/kr miftykf/kdkjh dks lek;kstu dh vuqefr nsus dk vf/kdkj gksxkA 14- 'kklukns'k 09 vDVwcj] 01 ds ifjikyu esa vukjf{kr oxZ gsrq ;fn p;u dh dk;Zokgh iw.kZ dj yh xbZ Fkh rks mu fjfDr;ksa dks p;u@vkoaVu dh izfdz;k esa iqu% lfEefyr ugh fd;k tk;sxkA 15- pw¡fd 'kklu Lrj ij miyC/k lwpukuqlkj izns'k ds yxHkx lHkh tuinksa esa orZeku esa mfpr nj dh nqdku fjDr py jgh gS ftlls miHkksDrkvksa dks lgh le; ij [kk|kUu ,oa vU; oLrq;sa miyC/k djkus esa dfBukbZ gks jgh gS] vr,oa tufgr esa bu fjfDr;ksa dks 'kh?kz Hkjk tkuk furkUr vko';d gSA Hkonh;
g0 v0 ¼[katu yky½ izeq[k lfpo la[;k rFkk fnukad mijksDRk%& izfrfyfi fuEufyf[kr dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko';d dk;Zokgh gsrq izsf"kr& 1- vk;qDr [kk| rFkk jln foHkkx] tokgj Hkou] y[kuÅ 2- leLr e.Myk;qDr] m0iz0 3- leLr lEHkkxh; [kk| fu;a=d] m0iz0 4- leLr lgk;d vk;qDr ¼[kk|½] m0iz0 5- leLr mi lEHkkxh; foi.ku vf/kdkjh] m0iz0 vkKk ls& g0v0 ¼ujsUnz dqekj pkS/kjh½ fo'ks"k lfpoA"
The aforesaid Government Order was followed by another Government Order dated 27.12.2004 which was reiterated by the Government Order dated 28.7.2008 as under:
"la[;k&2572@29&6&08&162lk@01 izs"kd] tSdc FkkWel] izeq[k lfpo] mRrj izns'k 'kkluA lsok esa] 1- leLr ftykf/kdkjh] mRrj izns'kA 2- leLr ftykiwfrZ vf/kdkjh] mRrj izns'kA [kk| ,oa jln vuqHkkx&6 y[kuÅ% fnukad% 28 tqykbZ] 2008 fo"k;& lkoZtfud forj.k iz.kkyh ds vUrxZr xzkeh.k ,oa uxjh; {ks= dh fjDr mfpr nj nqdkuksa dks Hkjs tkus ds lEcU/k esaA egksn;] mi;qZDr fo"k;d 'kklu ds i= la[;k&lh-,e-60@29&6&07&162lk@01] fnukad 10 vxLr] 2007 ,oa rRlEcU/kh vuqLekjd i= la[;k&2314@29&6&08&162lk@01] fnukad 10 tqykbZ] 2008 dk d`i;k lUnHkZ xzg.k djus dk d"V djsa ftlds vUrxZr xzkeh.k rFkk uxjh; {ks= esa fu/kkZfjr izfdz;k ds vuqlkj vkjf{kr oxZ dh fjDr nqdkuksa dks] le;c) rjhds ls Hkjus ds funsZ'k fn;s x;s gSaA 2& 'kklu ds laKku esa ;g rF; vk;s gaS fd izns'k ds leLr tuinksa esa xzke iapk;rksa }kjk nqdku ds Hkjus gsrq izLrko ikfjr u djus ds dkj.k nqdkuksa dh fjfDr;kW iw.kZ ugha gks ik jgh gSaA bl izdkj dh dfBukb;ksa ds fujkdj.k gsrq 'kklukns'k la[;k&4463@29&6&07&300lk@03Vhlh] fnukad 27 fnlEcj] 2004 }kjk fjfDr;ksa dks Hkjus ds lEcU/k esa leLr 'kklukns'kksa dks la'kksf/kr djrs gq, ;g izfdz;k fu/kkZfjr dh x;h fd ;fn fu/kkZfjr le; esa mfpr nj nqdkuksa dk [email protected] ds mijkUr lEcfU/kr miftykf/kdkjh }kjk nqdku dh fu;qfDr lEcU/kh izfdz;k iwjh ugh dh tkrh gS rks ftykiwfrZ vf/kdkfj;ksa dks vf/kd`r fd;k tkrk gS fd os Lo;a 'kklukns'k esa fu/kkZfjr izfdz;k ds vuqlkj fjDr mfpr nj nqdku dh fjfDr ds lEcU/k esa dk;Zokgh iw.kZ djkdj xzke iapk;r gsrq nqdku fu;qDr djds vuqcU/k i= Hkjk ysa] ijUrq bl vk'k; dk izek.k i= vafdr fd;k tkuk gksxk fd lEcfU/kr miftykf/kdkjh }kjk le;kUrxZr ubZ nqdku dh fu;qfDr ugh dh x;h vkSj fu/kkZfjr le; chr x;k gSA mDr 'kklukns'k vHkh Hkh izHkkoh gSA 3& vr% vuqjks/k gS fd mDr 'kklukns'k ds izdk'k esa fjDr nqdkuksa dks Hkjus dh dk;Zokgh djrs gq, 'kklu }kjk fu/kkZfjr vof/k rd iw.kZ djkuk lqfuf'pr djus dk d"V djsaA Hkonh;] g0 ¼tSdc FkkWel½ izeq[k lfpoA la[;k ,oa fnukad rnSo izfrfyfi fuEufyf[kr dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko';d dk;Zokgh gsrq izsf"kr%& 1& vk;qDr [kk| ,oa jln foHkkx] m0iz0] tokgj Hkou] y[kuÅA 2& leLr e.Myk;qDr] mRrj izns'kA 3& leLr mik;qDr] mRrj izns'kA 4& xkMZ cqdA vkKk ls] g0 ¼pUnz izdk'k½ fo'ks"k lfpoA"
The Government Order dated 17.8.2002 clearly provides for selection of fair price shop agent for a village panchayat by a resolution of the village panchayat in its open meeting. A limited exception to this normal rule in public interest has been provided in para (11) of the aforesaid Government Order which authorises District Magistrate to direct for allotment of fair price shop on recommendation of committee constituted as per the Government Orders under the Chairmanship of the Up-Ziladhikari, where a village panchayat either does not pass a resolution or where there arises dispute in passing resolution. Except in these two circumstances, District Magistrate or the Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Up-Ziladhikari have no authority to make allotment of fair price shop in any village panchayat, without resolution of the village panchayats in its open meeting as per statutory provisions including Rule 46, 46 A and 46 B of the U.P. Panchayat Raj Rules 1947. Having clarified the legal position as aforesaid, now I proceed to examine the validity of appointment of the respondent no.7.
It appears that the District Level Selection Committee took up the matter and invited applications by advertisement dated 8.8.2016 subject to the condition that applications for agents for those Village Panchayats shall be excluded from lottery where selection is made by Village Panchayat in its open meeting. There were 229 vacant fair price shops. Block Development Officer have provided details of 84 fair price shops where Village Panchayats have selected fair price shops agents in their open meeting. Thus, 145 Village Panchayats were liable to be considered for selection of agents through lottery. For 15 fair price shops merely single applications were received and as such there was no need for lottery with respect to these 15 fair price shops. No applications were received for fair price shops of eight village panchayats. Thus, 122 fair price shops in different Village Panchayats were liable to be considered for selection of agents through lottery by the District Level Committee pursuant to the advertisement dated 8.8.2016, which included the Village Panchayat in question i.e. Village Panchayat - Amai Paar, where an open meeting was held on 8.8.2016 and a resolution was passed proposing the name of the respondent no.7 for appointment as fair price shop agent. The proposal of the Village Panchayat was approved by the Tehsil Level Committee and appointment letter was issued by the S.D.M. Sadar, Basti on 31.8.2016. It appears that due to inadvertence the fair price shop of Village Panchayat - Amai Paar could not be excluded from the list of Village Panchayat for consideration of the District Level Committee for appointment of fair price shop agents through lottery. Under the circumstances, when the error came to the notice of the authorities, it was rectified and the appointment of the respondent no.7 which was made on the basis of his selection by the Village Panchayat in its open meeting, was continued which does not suffer from any illegality.
Submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that once the petitioner has been selected by the District Level Committee in its meeting on 4.10.2016 pursuant to the advertisement dated 8.8.2016, the selection of respondent no.7 is wholly without authority of law and jurisdiction, has no substance. Village Panchayats have been given constitutional status under the Constitution of India. The normal mode of selection of fair price shop agents of Village Panchayats is by the majority opinion of members of Village Panchayat. The opinion of members in the open meeting of the Village Panchayat for selection of an agent represents the will of people. The choice of an officer either in selection by lottery or otherwise, can not ordinarily override the majority view expressed by members of the Village Panchayat in an open meeting of the village panchayat for selection of a fair price shop agent. As per Government Order dated 17.8.2002, the normal procedure for selection of an agent of a fair price shop of a Village Panchayat is to be based on the proposal of the Village Panchayat in its open meeting. It is merely in rare circumstances and as an exception to the normal rule that a fair price shop agent may be appointed through lottery. Once there is sufficient evidence on record that the name of respondent no.7 was proposed for appointment as fair price shop agent by a resolution of the Village Panchayat in its open meeting, approval of his selection by the Tehsil Level Committee and consequently appointment by the S.D.M., is wholly valid. In the present case it was merely because of human error that the list prepared for selection of fair price shop agents of vacant fair price shops through lottery included the Village Panchayat - Amai Paar where the fair price shop agent was already appointed on 31.8.2016 as per proposal made by the Village Panchayat in its open meeting.
In view of the aforesaid, I do not find any illegality in the appointment of the respondent no.7 as fair price shop agent. The writ petition is wholly misconceived and is, therefore, dismissed.
In result, the writ petition fails and is hereby dismissed.
Order Date :- 22.3.2017/vkg