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2021 DIGILAW 419 (ALL)

Akhilesh Tiwari v. State of U. P.

2021-03-18

RAVI NATH TILHARI, SURYA PRAKASH KESARWANI

body2021
JUDGMENT : 1. Heard Sri Rishi Kant Rai, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned standing counsel for the State respondents. 2. This writ petition has been filed praying for the following relief:- "(I) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned order dated 13.11.2019, passed by the respondent no.2 (Annexure No.6). (ii) Issue writ, order or direction declaring the Clause-II (1) & (2) of the Govt. Order dated 05.08.2021 as Ultra Vires against the constitutional provisions and Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India as well as against the law laid down by the Constitutional Bench in Indra Sawhney (Supra) Case. (iii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent no.2 to allocate the Fair Price Shop of Village Gulriya in favour of general category candidate. (iv) Issue any other appropriate writ, order or direction to which the petitioner be found entitled under the facts and circumstances of the case. (v) Award costs in favour of the petitioner." 3. Briefly states facts to the present case are that the petitioner claims to be resident of Village Gulriya Kohar Gaddi, Block Nebua Naurangiya, Tehsil Khadda, District Kushinagar. Earlier the aforesaid fair price shop license was held by a person belonging to unreserved category. On cancellation of his license of the fair price shop by order dated 26.07.2019, the aforesaid fair price shop fell vacant. Applying the reservation criteria as provided under the Government Order No.6/2019/1358/29-6-2019-162-Sa/2001 dated 05.08.2019, the Sub Divisional Officer, Tehsil Khadda, District Kushinagar, vide impugned order dated 13.11.2019, directed the Block Development Officer, Block Nebua Naurangiya, Kushinagar to apply the reservation in fair price shop licenses, as per the aforesaid Government Order dated 05.08.2019 and accordingly to proceed for selection of a fair price shop licensee of Village Panchayat Gulriya under the category of Scheduled Caste. Aggrieved with the reservation of the fair price shop in question i.e. Village Panchayat Gulriya, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition, praying for the reliefs aforequoted. Submissions: 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that presently as per the letter of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Tehsil Khadda, District Kushinagar dated 29.07.2019, there are 92 fair price shops, out of which 25 licenses are held by the persons belonging to schedule caste/schedule tribe and 50 licenses are held by the persons belonging to OBC category. Submissions: 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that presently as per the letter of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Tehsil Khadda, District Kushinagar dated 29.07.2019, there are 92 fair price shops, out of which 25 licenses are held by the persons belonging to schedule caste/schedule tribe and 50 licenses are held by the persons belonging to OBC category. Thus out of total 92 fair price shop 75 shops are being run by persons of reserved category and, therefore, the reservation as has been provided under the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 already stands achieved. Consequently reservation applied under the impugned Clauses of the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 for reservation of the fair price shop "Gulriya", violates the Rules of Reservation, in as much as it exceed to permissible limit. He therefore, submits that the impugned Government Order to the extent of Clause-II (1) & (2) deserves to be declared Ultra Vires, to Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India and the principles of law laid down by the Constitution Bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney Case, 1992 Suppl. (3) SCC 217. 5. Learned standing counsel submits that the cut of date for the purposes of the reservation has been provided in the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 as the year 2015 and on that basis identification of the reserved fair price shop has been made. He further submits that before applicability of reservation under the impugned Government Order dated 05.08.2019, those who were continuing with their licenses, have not been disturbed, and reservation for license of fair price shop either under the reserved category or under the unreserved category shall be applied with respect to a particular shop as and when it becomes vacant. Since the shop of Village Panchayat Gulriya fell under the reserved category of scheduled caste and, therefore, when it became vacant on 26.07.2019, the said shop was notified for grant of license under the reserved category. Referring to various paragraphs of the counter affidavit, learned standing counsel further submits that the percentage of reservation made under the Government Order dated 05.08.2019, neither exceeds the permissible limit of 50% nor it is the case of the petitioner that the fair price shop reserved under the aforesaid Government Order exceeds 50%. Referring to various paragraphs of the counter affidavit, learned standing counsel further submits that the percentage of reservation made under the Government Order dated 05.08.2019, neither exceeds the permissible limit of 50% nor it is the case of the petitioner that the fair price shop reserved under the aforesaid Government Order exceeds 50%. To support his submissions he also invited attention of this Court to the copy of the minutes of the meeting dated 30.09.2019, filed as annexure no.1, to the counter affidavit; with which a chart has been enclosed containing details of shops and reservation in terms of Government Order dated 05.08.2019 are mentioned. Discussions and findings 6. We have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties. 7. Discussions and findings 6. We have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties. 7. Before we proceed to consider the rival submissions of learned counsel for the parties, it would be appropriate to reproduce the impugned portions, Clauses I and II of the aforesaid Government Order dated 05.08.2019, as under:- ^^¼1½ vkj{k.k O;oLFkk dk fu/kkZj.k& 1& mfpr nj dh nqdkuksa ds vkcaVu@p;u gsrq fuEukuqlkj ofVZdy vkj{k.k O;oLFkk vuqeU; gksxh %& ¼d½ vuwlwfpr tkfr 21 izfr'kr ¼[k½ vuqlwfpr tutkfr 02 izfr'kr ¼x½ vU; fiNM+s oxZ 27 izfr'kr ¼?k½ vkfFkZd :i ls detksj oxZ tks] vuqlwfpr tkfr vuqlwfpr tutkfr rFkk fiNM+s oxksZ ds fy, vkj{k.k dh vkj{k.k dh orZeku O;oLFkk ls vkPNkfnr ugha gS] gsrq ¼dkfeZd foHkkx ds i= laŒ1@2019@4@1@2002@d&2@19Vhlh&11] fnukad 18&2&2019 es fufgr 'krksZ ,oa O;oLFkk ds vuqlkj½ 10 izfr'kr 2- mi;ZqDrkuqlkj vkjf{kr ,oa vukjf{kr Jsf.k;ksa esa fuEufyf[kr gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k Hkh vuqeU; gksxk& ¼d½ lacf/kr Js.kh dh efgykvksa dks 20 izfr'kr ¼[k½ lacf/kr Js.kh ds yM+kbZ es ekjs x;s lSfud ds ifjokj ds lnL;] drZO; fuoZgu ds nkSjku ekjs x;s dsUnzh; l'kL= iqfyl cyksa ds ifjokj ds lnL;] yM+kbZ es ?kk;y gq, lSfud vFkok mlds ifjokj ds lnL;] drZO; fuoZgu ds nkSjku ?kk;y dsUnzh; l'kL= iqfyl cyks ads lnL; vFkok mlds ifjokj ds lnL; rFkk HkwriwoZ lSfudA 05 izfr'kr ¼x½ lacf/kr Js.kh ds Loraa=rk laxzke lsukuh] mudh iRuh rFkk Lora=rk laxzke lsukuh ds vkfJr ds :i es iq=¼iq= dh iq=h ,oa iq=h dh iq=h½ ¼fookfgr vFkok vfookfgr½ 05 izfr'kr ¼?k½ lEcfa/kr Js.kh ds foadykx O;fDr;ksa ds fy, n`f"Vghurk ;k den`f"V Jo.k gkl Pkyu fØ;k lEca/kh fu%'kDrk ;k izefLr”dh; vaax?kkr 01 izfr'kr 01 izfr'kr 01 izfr'kr dqy 03 izfr'kr 3& tuin es xzkeh.k {ks= gsrq Lohd`r leLr mfpr nj nqdkuksa ¼dk;Zjr ,oa fjDr½ dh Cykdokj x.kuk djrs gq;s muds vkj{k.k dk fpUgkdu mi;qZDr izLrjks esa of.kZr O;oLFkkuqlkj fd;k tk;sxk] ijUrq mDr vkj{k.k izfr'kr dks iw.kZ djus ds fy, orZeku esa py jgh nqdkuksa dks fujLr ugha fd;k tk;sxkA orZeku es fjDr ,oa ;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 ¼2½ vkj{k.k dh x.kuk gsrq izfØ;k dk fu/kkZj.k %& ¼1½ fodkl [k.M dks ,d ;wfuV ekurs gq, rglhy Lrjh; lfefr }kjk vkj{k.k dh x.kuk dh tk;sxhA izzR;sd fodkl [k.M es dqy Lohd`r nqdkuks es ls vkjf{kr Js.kh ds fpUgkadu gsrq iapk;rh jkt foHkkx] mŸkj izns'k }kjk o"kZ 2015 esa xzke lHkk dh tula[;k ds izfr'kr ds vk/kkj ij] xzke iz/kku ds inksa esa ykxw vkj{k.k O;oLFkk dh Hkkafr nqdkuks dks fpfUgr o vkjf{kr fd;k tk;sxkA xzkeh.k {ks=ks esa mfpr nj nqdkuksa ds vkj{k.k ds fpaagkdu dk ;gh eq[; vk/kkj gksxkA ¼2½ Hkfo"; esa mDrkuqqlkj vkjf{kr Js.kh ds varZxr fpfUgr nqdkus tSls&tSls fjDr gksrh tk;sxh] mudk vkoaVu mlh Js.kh ds vH;fFkZ;ksa dks fd;k tk;sxkA ¼3½ ,d ls vf/kd nqdkuksa dh xzke lHkk es igyh nqdku dks mijksDrkuqlkj fu/kkZfjr izfØ;k ds vuqlkj vkjf{kr fd;k tk;sxkA bl xzke lHkk dh 'ks”k nqdkuks dh Js.kh ds lEca/k es] lEcf/kr fodkl [k.M es] nqdkuks es vkj{k.k dh fLFkr dk laKku ysrs gq;s] xzke lHkk dh tula[;k ds izfr'kr ds vk/kkj ij] vfUre fu.kZ; rglhy Lrjh; p;u lfefr }kjk fy;k tk;sxkA ;g /;ku j[kk tk;sxk fd lEcf/kr Cykd esa nqdkuks ds vkj{k.k dk izfr'kr iw.kZ jgsA ¼4½ vukjf{kr xzkelHkkvks gsrq fdlh Hkh oxZ dk vH;FkhZ fu/kkfjZr vkSipkfjdrkvksa dks iw.kZ djds vkosnu dj ldrk gSA ¼5½ fodkl [k.M es dqy Lohd`r nqdkuksa ds lkis{k vkj{k.kokj mfpr nj nqdkuksa dk fPkUgkadu rks dj fy;k tk;sxk] ijUrq orZeku es dk;Zjr fdlh Hkh mfpr nj nqdku dks bl fpUgkadu ds ifjisz{; es fujLr ugha fd;k tk;sxkA ¼6½ xzkeh.k {ks= es jk'ku dh nqdkuksa ds vkoaVu dh dk;Zokgh fuEukuqlkj xfBr rglhy Lrjh; lfefr }kjk dh tk;sxh%& ¼d½ mi ftykf/kdkjh v/;{k ¼[k½ lacf/kr [k.M fodkl vf/kdkjh lnL; ¼x½ vuwlwfpr tkfr@tutkfr ,oa fiNM+h tkfr dk ,d&,d vf/kdkjh tks ftykf/kdkjh }kjk ukfer fd;k tk;ss ¼;fn mi;qDr vf/kdkfj;ksa esa dksbZ vf/kdkjh bl oxZ dk gks rks vyx ls ukekadu djus dh vko';drk ugh gksxh½ lnL; ¼?k½ {ks=h; [kk| vf/kdkjh lnL;@la;kstd ¼7½ gksfjtUVy vkj{k.k ds varZxr dqy Lohd`r nqdkuks ds lkis{k xzke lHkkvksa dk fpUgkadu fu/kkZfjr izfr'kr rd ykVjh i}fr ds vk/kkj ij gh fd;k tk;sxkA gksfjts.Vy vkj{k.k ds vuqlkj izR;sd Js.kh ds fy, Øeokj ,d&,d iphZ rc rd fudkyh tk;sxh] tc rd fu/kkZfjr gksfjts.Vy vkj{k.k iw.kZ ugha gks tkrkA ¼8½ vkj{k.k dh x.kuk dh dk;Zokgh dh ohfM;ksa fjdkfMZx djk;h tk;sxh rFkk blsa lajf{kr j[kk tk;sxkA ¼9½ mi;qDrkuqlkj fpUgkafdr ofVZdy ,oa gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k dk xzke lHkkokj ekLVj jftLVj cuk;k tk;sxk] ftldh ,d izfr ftyk iwfrZ dk;kZy; ,ao ,d izfr rglhy Lrjh; mi ftykf/kdkjh dk;kZy; esa lqjf{kr j[kh tk;sxhA lEcaf/kr rglhy ds {ks=h; [kk| vf/kdkjh dk ;g nkf;Ro gksxk fd og mDr ekLVj vkj{k.k jftLVj nksuksa dk;kZy;ksa es miyC/k djk;sA ¼10½ gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k ds varxZr ;fn laEcf/kr Js.kh dk dksbZ vkosnd xzke lHkk esa miyC/k u gks rks ftykf/kdkjh dks NwV gksxh fd og gksfjtsUVy vkj{k.k Js.kh ds varZxr ml LFkku dks fdlh vU; Js.kh ds fy, fpaUgkafdr dj ns ,oa ftl Js.kh dk vH;FkhZ miYkC/k ugha Fkk] ml Js.kh ds fy, fdlh vU; LFkku dks vkoafVr dj ns] ftlls gkWfjts.Vy vkj{k.k iw.kZ gks ldsA ¼11½ izLrj &¼1½2¼x½ ds varZxr ik= vH;FkhZ miyC/k u gksus dh fLFkfr es ml fjfDr dks loZizFke ¼1½ 2 ¼[k½ ds vH;FkhZ ls Hkjus dk iz;kl fd;k tk;sxkA^^ 8. The percentage of reservation as provided under Clause (I) of the impugned Government Order is neither in dispute nor under challenge. Only Sub Clauses (1) and (2) of Clause (II) are impugned in the present writ petition. Sub Clause (3) of Clause (I) of the aforesaid Government Order provides the procedure for identification of fair price shop for reservation. It further provides that to achieve the reservation, license/existing licenses of fair price shop shall not be cancelled and in the event any fair price shop fall vacant or its license is cancelled then reservation shall be applied in respect thereof, as per the Government Order. The undisputed chart as appended with the minutes of the meeting dated 30.09.2019 also reflect that the reservation of fair price shop at Block Level does not exceed 50% of the total number of the fair price shops. Sub Clause (1) of Clause (II) provided a cut of date for identification of fair price shop at Block level for reservation. The cut of date so provided has neither been shown to us to be suffering from any invalidity nor it violates any of the fundamental rights of the petitioners guaranteed under the Constitution of India. Therefore, the challenge to Sub Clause(1) of Clause (II), deserves rejection and is hereby rejected. 9. Sub Clause(2) of Clause (II) provides that in future if a shop has been identified for reserved category, falls vacant, then its license shall be settled in that category. This clause also does not violate Article 14 and Article 15 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, challenge the aforesaid Sub Clause(2) of Clause (II) also deserves rejection and is hereby rejected. 10. Submission of learned counsel for the petitioner on the basis of number of existing licenses being held by the persons either belonging to the OBC category or SC/ST category, is totally meritless. The existing fair price shop licensees are running their shops from a long period much prior to the Government Order dated 05.08.2019. The Government Order itself protects the existing licensees. It provides that licenses of the existing licensees shall not be disturbed/cancelled and as and when a shop fall vacant then it shall be governed by the reservation policy under the Government order. The Government Order itself protects the existing licensees. It provides that licenses of the existing licensees shall not be disturbed/cancelled and as and when a shop fall vacant then it shall be governed by the reservation policy under the Government order. For example, if a shop has been identified in terms of the Government Order dated 05.08.2019, to be under unreserved category but presently it is being held by a person belonging to a reserved category then if such a shop fall vacant in future then it shall fall under the unreserved category. Similarly, if the license of an existing shop although fall under the reserved category but presently license thereof is being held by a person belonging to unreserved category, then if in future such a shop fall vacant then its license shall be settled under the reserved category. Thus, we do not find any force in the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner. 11. For all the reasons aforestated we find that the impugned Clauses of the Government Order dated 05.08.2019 do not suffer from any invalidity. The impugned order dated 13.11.2019 is in terms of the Government Order. Therefore, it also does not suffer from any illegality. 12. The writ petition has no merits. Therefore, it is hereby dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs.