Research › Search › Judgment

Allahabad High Court · body

2019 DIGILAW 2659 (ALL)

Omveer Singh v. State of U. P.

2019-11-28

AJAY BHANOT, BISWANATH SOMADDER

body2019
JUDGMENT : Biswanath Somadder, J. 1. The subject matter of challenge in the instant writ proceeding is an order dated 2nd August, 2019, of the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh [as communicated by the Deputy Excise Commissioner (Licensing)]. 2. By the impugned order, the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has allowed transfer of a foreign liquor shop belonging to the private respondent no. 8 from one site to another. The site where the shop is sought to be transferred is a site where the petitioner has an existing licence to sell foreign liquor. The writ petitioner, feeling aggrieved, has thus filed the writ petition. 3. For convenience, the impugned order dated 2nd August, 2019, issued by the respondent no. 8 from one site to another. The site where the shop is sought to be transferred is a site where the petitioner has an existing licence to sell foreign liquor. The writ petitioner, feeling aggrieved, has thus filed the writ petition. 3. For convenience, the impugned order dated 2nd August, 2019, issued by the respondent no. 3 is set out herein-below:- ^^Qkby la[;k&1057@19 bZ esy@jftLVMZ dk;kZy; vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'k] Á;kxjkt la[;k&12932@nl ykbZlsUl&11@th&12x@2019&20@fctukSj Ás"kd] vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'kA lsok esa] ftykf/kdkjh] fctukSjA fnukad% 02 vxLr 2019 fo"k;%& tuin fctukSj esa O;ofLFkr fons'kh efnjk nqdku dk LFkkukUrj.k fd;s tkus ds lEca/k esaA egksn;] d`i;k mi;qZDr fo"k;d Ádj.k Ásf"kr vius i= la[;k&779@ftŒvkŒvf/kŒ@nqdku LFkkŒ@2019&20@fctukSj@fnukad 29-07-2019 dk lanHkZ xzg.k djus dk d"V djsaA lanfHkZr i=kUrxZr Ásf"kr ÁLrko ,oa fd;s x;s vuqjks/k ij fopkjksijkUr vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'k }kjk vkns'k fnukad 02-08-2019 ds vUrxZr tuin dh 01 fons'kh efnjk nqdku dks v/kksfyf[kr rkfydk ds dkye&3 ls dkye&06 ds LFky ij LFkkukUrfjr fd;s tkus dh vuqefr fuEu Áfrca/kks ds v/khu Ánku dj nh gS%& ØŒ laŒ en LFkkukUrj.k gsrq ÁLrkfor nqdku dk uke@orZeku vofLFkfr fudk ; dh ÁkfLFkfr okf"kZd ,eŒthŒ D;wŒ@csfld ykblsal Qhl ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr dk Li"V mYys[k v{kka'k@ns'kkUrj ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr ij fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr ÁLrkfor fudk; o ÁkfLFkfr ij okf"kZd ,eŒthŒD;wŒ @csfld ykblsal Qhl 1 fons'kh efnjk L;ksgjk uaŒ&1 ¼lkseokj dk cktkj½ 29]20]347@78]58]071 uxj ikfydk :i;s 19]94]521 L;ksgjk uaŒ&1 ¼QCckjk pkSd½ 29]21]251@78]58]411 Ukxj ikfydk :i;s 19]94]521 ÁfrcU/k %& ¼1½ LFkkukUrfjr uohu LFky ij nqdkuksa dh ÁkfLFkfr mŒÁŒ vkcdkjh ¼nqdkuksa dh la[;k ,oa fLFkfr½ fu;ekoyh&1968 ¼;Fkk la'kksf/kr½ esa fufgr Ákfo/kkukuqlkj lqfuf'pr dh tk;A ¼2½ nqdkuksa dh ÁkfLFkfr fu/kkZj.k esa bl dk;kZy; }kjk iwoZ esa tkjh ekxZn'kZd fl)kUr fnukad 15-02-2002 ds Ákfo/kkuksa dks Hkh n`f"Vxr j[kk tk;A ¼3½ uohu LFkyksa ij nqdkuksa ds LFkkukUrj.k ls mlds vkl&ikl igys ls O;ofLFkr@lapkfyr nqdkusa dqÁHkkfor u gksA ¼4½ uohu LFkyksa@vofLFkfr ij nqdkuksa dks LFkkukUrfjr djus ls fdlh Ádkj ds fookn@fof/kd fookn dh fLFkfr mRiUu u gksA ¼5½ ;fn dksbZ nqdku fuEu fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr ls mPp fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr esa LFkkukUrfjr dh tk jgh gS rks fu;ekuqlkj okafNr /kujkf'k tek djkbZ tk;sA ¼6½ ÁR;sd n'kk esa vfuok;Z :i ls ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 15-12-2016 ,oa 31-03-2017 ,oa 11-07-2017 dk vuqikyu lqfuf'pr fd;k tk;sA d`i;k rnuqlkj vko';d dk;Zokgh vey esa ykus dk d"V djsaA Hkonh; gLrk{kj viBuh; 02-08-2019 ¼MkŒ lqjs'k pUæ½ mi&vkcdkjh vk;qDr ¼ykblsflax½ dk;kZy; vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'kA la[;k&nl ykbZlsUl&11@th&12x@2019&20@fctukSj@rnfnukadA Áfrfyfi fuEufyf[kr dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko';d dk;Zokgh gsrq Ásf"kr %& ¼1½ la;qDr vkcdkjh vk;qDr] esjB tksu] esjBA ¼2½ mi&vkcdkjh vk;qDr] eqjknkckn ÁHkkjA ¼3½ ftyk vkcdkjh vf/kdkjh] fctukSjA ¼MkŒ lqjs'k pUæ½ mi&vkcdkjh vk;qDr ¼ykblsflax½ dk;kZy; vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'kA** 4. A bare perusal of the impugned order reveals that the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has merely acted on the proposal forwarded by the District Magistrate, Bijnor, being the respondent no. 4 before us. This proposal dated 29th July, 2019, is also required to be noticed and is set out herein-below:- ^^Ás"kd] ftykf/kdkjh] fctukSjA lsok esa] vkcdkjh vk;qDr mŒÁŒ Á;kxjktA la[;k&779@ftŒvkŒvf/kŒ@nqdku LFkkŒ@2019&20@fctukSj@fnukad 29 tqykbZ 2019 fo"k;%& fons'kh efnjk nqdku L;ksgkjk uaŒ&1 dk LFkkukUrj.k lkseokj dk cktkj ls QOokjk pkSd fd;s tkus lEcU/k esaA egksn;] d`i;k mijksDr fo"k;d vkidks lEcksf/kr Jherh fu'kk vxzoky vuqKkih fons'kh efnjk nqdku L;ksgkjk uaŒ&1 ds ÁkFkZuk i= dk lanHkZ xzg.k djus dk d"V djsa] mi&vkcdkjh vk;qDr] eqjknkckn ÁHkkj ds ek/;e ls ftyk vkcdkjh vf/kdkjh fctukSj dh vk[;k ekaxh x;h FkhA ftl ij ftyk vkcdkjh vf/kdkjh] fctukSj }kjk lkseokj dk cktkj esa mDr nqdku dk Hkkjh tufojks/k gksus rFkk nqdku ds lapkyu esa vk jgh dfBukbZ ds dkj.k mDr nqdku dk LFkkukUrj.k djus gsrq vk[;k nh x;h Fkh rFkk LFkkukUrj.k dk ÁLrko pawfd esjs ek/;e ls Ásf"kr fd;k tkuk FkkA vr,o vkcdkjh fujh{kd {ks=&3 ,oa ftyk vkcdkjh vf/kdkjh fctukSj dh vk[;k ds vuqlkj esjs }kjk fons'kh efnjk nqdku L;ksgkjk uaŒ&1 ds LFkkukUrj.k dk ÁLrko fu/kkZfjr Ák:i esa fuEuor~ gS %& SØŒ laŒ en LFkkukUrj.k gsrq ÁLrkfor nqdku dk uke@orZeku vofLFkfr v{kka'k@ns'kkUrj fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr okf"kZd ykblsal Qhl@,eŒthŒD;wŒ ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr dk Li"V mYys[k v{kka'k@ns'kkUrj OkrZeku LFky ls ÁLrkfor LFky dh nwjh ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr ij fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr ÁLrkfor fudk; dh ÁkfLFkfr ij okf"kZd@,eŒthŒ D;wŒ 1 1 L;ksgjk uaŒ&1 ¼lkseokj dk cktkj½ 29]20]347@78]58]071 uxj ikfydk :i;s 19]94]521@& L;ksgkjk uaŒ&1 ¼QOokjk pkSd½ 29]21]251@78]58]411 1-4 fdŒehŒ Ukxj ikfydk :i;s 19]94]521@& ---------- ----------- ----------- ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr ds vkl&ikl igys ls lapkfyr nqdkuksa dk fooj.k Ekn nqdku dk uke okf"kZd ykblsal Qhl ÁLrkfor vofLFkfr ls nwjh ¼fdŒehŒ½ 1 L;ksgjk uaŒ&2 ¼jkeyhyk xzkm.M½ :i;s 32]90]000@& 1-3 fdŒehŒ 2 L;ksgjk uaŒ&3 ¼eksŒ bLykeuxj LVs'ku jksM+½ :i;s 10]10]000@& 0-8 fdŒehŒ mDr nqdku dk ÁLrkfor uohu LFky ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; fnukad 15-12-2016] 31-03-2017 ,oa 11-07-2017 ls ckf/kr ugha gSA vr% jktLo ,oa tufgr es mDr efnjk dh nqdku dk LFkkukUrj.k L;ksgkjk uaŒ&1 ¼QOokjk pkSd½ dh Lohd`fr djus dk d"V djsaA Hkonh; gLrk{kj viBuh; 29-7-2019 ¼jekdkUr ik.Ms;½ ftykf/kdkjh] fctukSjA** 5. In order to examine as to whether the impugned order dated 2nd August, 2019, requires intervention by the writ Court one needs to consider the relevant provision of the Uttar Pradesh Number and Location of Excise Shops Rules, 1968. The relevant provision, in the facts of the instant case, is sub rule (2) of Rule 5 of Uttar Pradesh Number And Location of Excise Shops Rules, 1968, which reads as follows:- “(2) No change in the site of any shop or sub-shop shall, except for very cogent reasons to be recorded in writing, shall be permitted during the currency of a settlement. The location of all shops and sub-shops shall be clearly defined at settlement in order to prevent any shifting of sites.” 6. The above quoted sub rule makes it clear that there cannot be any change in the site of any shop or sub-shop except for "very cogent reasons” and that too, such reasons are required “to be recorded in writing.” Therefore, we need to consider, at first, as to whether reasons have been recorded in writing and, secondly, whether those reasons are very cogent reasons or not. 7. The impugned order dated 2nd August, 2019, reveals the following reason for the purpose of allowing the site of the foreign liquor shop belonging to the private respondent no. 8 to be changed:- ^^lanfHkZr i=kUrxZr Ásf"kr ÁLrko ,oa fd;s x;s vuqjks/k ij fopkjksijkUr vkcdkjh vk;qDr] mRrj Áns'k }kjk vkns'k fnukad 02-08-2019 ds vUrxZr tuin dh 01 fons'kh efnjk nqdku dks v/kksfyf[kr rkfydk ds dkye&3 ls dkye&06 ds LFky ij LFkkukUrfjr fd;s tkus dh vuqefr fuEu Áfrca/kks ds v/khu Ánku dj nh gSA** “On consideration of the proposal forwarded vide the letter in question and the request made therein, the Excise Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh, vide order dated 02.08.2019 has permitted for shifting of 01 English Wine Shop of the district from the place mentioned in column-3 to the place mentioned in column 6 of the table given below subject to the following restriction.” (English translation) 8. It is palpably evident from a plain reading of the above sentence that the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has merely referred to the proposal of the District Magistrate, Bijnor, dated 29th July, 2019, as a basis for consideration of change of site of the foreign liquor shop. It is palpably evident from a plain reading of the above sentence that the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has merely referred to the proposal of the District Magistrate, Bijnor, dated 29th July, 2019, as a basis for consideration of change of site of the foreign liquor shop. On the face of it, this sentence clearly reflects non-application of mind on the part of the Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, as well as the respondent no. 3 (under whose signature the impugned order dated 2nd August 2019 has been communicated). It cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be construed as a “very cogent reason” which is a condition required to be followed for the purpose of permitting change in the site of any shop or sub-shop. 9. At this stage, we must also take notice of the proposal dated 29th July, 2019, which was issued by the District Magistrate, Bijnor. This proposal of the District Magistrate, Bijnor, also reveals nonapplication of mind inasmuch as the District Magistrate, Bijnor, has merely parroted the observations made by the District Excise Officer, Binjor. The District Magistrate, Bijnor, never applied his independent mind while making such a proposal which may have an adverse effect upon the existing business of the writ petitioner. That apart in any event, even the proposal of the District Magistrate, Bijnor, dated 29th July, 2019, is bereft of “very cogent reasons” being the sine qua non for the purpose of allowing change in the site of any shop or sub-shop selling foreign liquor in the State of Uttar Pradesh. 10. For reasons stated above, we have no hesitation to set aside not only the order dated 2nd August, 2019, but also the proposal of the District Magistrate, Bijnor, dated 29th July, 2019, which forms the basis of issuance of the impugned order dated 2nd August, 2019. 11. The District Magistrate, Bijnor, shall examine the matter afresh and communicate his decision to the Excise Commissioner within a period of three weeks from date. The Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, thereafter, shall take a decision in the matter strictly in accordance with the provision as contained under sub rule (2) of Rule 5 of Uttar Pradesh Number and Location of Excise Shops Rules, 1968, after giving adequate opportunity of hearing to all concerned including the writ petitioner and the private respondent no. 8. 12. The Excise Commissioner, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, thereafter, shall take a decision in the matter strictly in accordance with the provision as contained under sub rule (2) of Rule 5 of Uttar Pradesh Number and Location of Excise Shops Rules, 1968, after giving adequate opportunity of hearing to all concerned including the writ petitioner and the private respondent no. 8. 12. The entire exercise, in terms of this order, shall be completed by the Excise Commissioner, Prayagarj, Uttar Pradesh, being the respondent no. 2, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three weeks, but not later than four weeks from the date of receipt of the decision from the office of the respondent no. 4, being the District Magistrate, Bijnor. 13. The writ petition is allowed accordingly.