IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2019 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE WRIT PETITION NO.53454 OF 2018 (GM-PDS) BETWEEN:
Smt. Manjula L., W/o Late Boregowda H.B., Aged about 53 years, No.388, “Prathibimba”, 2nd ‘A’ Main road, 2nd Cross, Hegganahalli, Yeshwanthpur Hobli, Bengaluru North Taluk, Bengaluru - 560 091. ... Petitioner (By Sri. Gowthamdev C. Ullal, Advocate) AND:
1. State of Karnataka, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies & Legal Metrology Department, Bengaluru City, Bengaluru – 560 001.
2. The Joint Director, Food and Civil Supplies & Legal Metrology Department, Bengaluru City, Bengaluru – 560 001.
3. The Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies & Legal Metrology Department, Bengaluru City, Bengaluru – 560 001. ... Respondents (By Sri V. Shivareddy, HCGP for R1 to 3) This Writ Petition is filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India praying to quash the endorsement dated 23.10.2018 vide Annexure-F issued by R-3 and etc., This writ petition coming on for Preliminary Hearing ‘B’ Group, this day, the court made the following:
O R D E R Sri. Gowthamdev C.Ullal, learned counsel for the petitioner. Sri V.Shivareddy, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondents.
2. Petition is admitted for hearing with consent of the parties. Same is heard finally.
3. In this petition, the petitioner inter alia seeks quashing of the endorsement dated 23.10.2018 issued by the respondent No.3, as well as writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.3 to consider the application dated 24.02.2018 for transfer of authorization on compassionate grounds in terms of the order dated 20.02.2017 passed in W.P.No.6993/2017.
4. Facts giving rise to filing of the present writ petition are that the petitioner’s husband was granted the authorization to run Fair Price Distribution Point at Hegganahalli, Yeshwanthpur Hobli, Bengaluru North Taluk, to distribute the essential commodities to the card holders attached to his shop, in the year 1993. The aforesaid license was valid till 31.12.2016. Unfortunately the husband of the petitioner expired on 02.02.2018. The petitioner thereupon submitted an application to respondent No.2 seeking transfer of authorization in his name. Respondent No.3 has rejected the same on the ground that the petitioner does not qualify the criteria with regard to the age as contained in the rules which were amended on 10.06.2016.
5. When the matter was taken up today, learned counsel for the petitioner while placing reliance on the order dated 20.02.2017 passed in W.P.No.6993/2017 submitted that the issue involved in this petition is no longer res integra and has been adjudicated.
6. On the other hand learned High Court Government Pleader submits that in W.P.No.22448/2015 referred to in W.P.No. 6993/2017, the amended provision of the rules were taken into consideration and therefore the aforesaid decision has no application to the fact situation of the case. However, it was fairly submitted by him that the respondents have neither filed an application seeking review of the order dated 20.02.2017, nor have filed any writ appeal against the aforesaid order.
7. I have considered the submission made by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the records.
8. Admittedly, the application for transfer of authorization in favour of the petitioner has been rejected on the ground that the petitioner does not fulfill the criteria with regard to the age. Paragraph-5 of the order dated 20.02.2017 in W.P.No.6993/2017 reads as under:
“5. Both on the aspect relating to the applicant not requiring to pass the SSLC and the restriction of age not being applicable when the transfer of authorization is sought on compassionate ground has arisen before this Court in several writ petitions including W.P.No.22448/2015 dated 21.09.2016 and W.P.No.204335/2014 dated 17.11.2014 and it has been held that such condition cannot be imposed for transfer on compassionate ground.”
9. From close scrutiny of the aforesaid paragraph, it is evident that in W.P.No.22448/2015 which was decided by an order dated 21.09.2016, it has been held that the requirement with regard to having passed SSLC and restriction of age is not applicable when the transfer of authorization is sought on compassionate ground. The aforesaid finding has admittedly attained finality and is binding on the respondents as they have not challenged the same either by filing a review petition or by filing a writ appeal. Therefore this Court finds no reason to take a different view.
10. In the result, the impugned endorsement dated 23.10.2018 is hereby quashed and set aside and a direction is issued to respondent No.3 to take note of the application filed by the petitioner and to consider the same for transfer of the authorization on compassionate ground as expeditiously as possible, but not later than eight weeks from the date on which a copy of this order is furnished.
The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.
Sd/- JUDGE ln.