WP(C) 437/2009 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE IA ANSARI Heard Mr. BC Das, learned Senior counsel, for the petitioner, and Ms. VL Singh, learned Government Advocate, appearing on behalf of the respondents. By the impugned order, dated 20-07-2007, passed by the respondent No. 3, namely, Deputy Commissioner, Sibsagar, the petitioner society’s licence, grante d under the Assam Public Distribution of Articles Order, 1982, hereinafter refer red to as the said Order, 1982. was suspended, the petitioner being a society re gistered under the Assam Co-operative Societies Act, 1949. By yet another order, dated 10-08-2007, issued by the respondent No. 3, namely, Deputy Commissioner, Sibsagar, a notice was given to the petitioner society to show cause as to why i ts licence shall not be cancelled on the grounds mentioned in the said notice. By making this writ application, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner society challenged the order, dated 20-07-2007, whereby their li cence, as aforesaid, was sought to be cancelled. As transpires from the materials on record, the petitioner society’s lic ence has not yet been cancelled. Suspension of a licence, issued under Clause 15 (2) of the said Order, 1982, cannot survive beyond the period of ninety days fr om the date on which the licence is placed under suspension. Situated thus, it becomes clear that the petitioner society’s licence ca nnot be kept suspended for indefinite period. Considering, therefore, the matter in its entirety and in the interest o f justice, the impugned order is hereby set aside and the State respondents, par ticularly, respondent No. 3, are left free to take such steps as are permissible in respect of the notice, dated 10-08-2007, which was issued to the petitioner society asking the petitioner society to show cause as to why the licence shall not be cancelled. With the above observations and directions, this writ petition shall sta nd disposed of.