IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.15571 of 2010 1. JITENDRA KUMAR S/O DEOKI DAS R/O VILL MARSUA, P.S.MAKHDUMPUR, DISTT-JEHANABAD ......Petitioners Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FOOD & CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT GOVT. OF BIHAR, PATNA 3. THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE JEHANABAD 4. THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE JEHANABAD 5. THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT SUPPLY OFFICER JEHANABAD 6. THE BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER MAKHDUMPUR, JEHANABAD 7. THE BLOCK SUPPLY OFFICER MAKHDUMPUR, JEHANABAD .....Respondents ----------- For the petitioner: Mr. Bindhyachal Singh, Advocate For the State: Mr. Ajay, SC 11 For the intervener: Mr. Ashwani Kr. Singh, Sr. Advocate ------- 9 05-01-2011 Heard the parties. This writ petition has been filed by way of a Public Interest Litigation on behalf of residents of village Marsua and other adjoining villages in Makhdumpur block district Jehanabad. The grievance of the petitioner is that the respondent authorities are not ensuring supply of food grains to beneficiaries of below poverty line (BPL) and Aantodaya scheme to the residents of villages falling under different Panchayats of Makhdumpur block. After filing of the writ petition the authorities appear to have woken up and from Intervention application filed on behalf of licensees under the Public 2 Distribution System of Makhdumpur block, it appears that show cause notice has been issued upon Block Supply Officer, Makhdumpur district Jehanabad from the office of Commissioner, Magadh Division, Gaya under the signature of Deputy Director, Food, Magadh Division. Annexure- I/5 discloses that the Block Supply Officer has disregarded the notice and has not appeared on various dates to explain the lapses. It is not in dispute that now the authorities have taken precautions and food supply is being made regularly to the beneficiaries of schemes noted above. The larger purpose of Public Interest Litigation having been served, it is finally disposed of with a direction to the concerned authorities to ensure that the enquiry in the matter, particularly, against the Block Supply Officer, Makhdumpur is completed without any delay, preferably, within three months and if he chooses not to cooperate with the enquiry it should be held ex parte. For various lapses the authorities may act as per law to ensure that such lapses do not recur in future. It appears necessary to remind that as per the provisions of the 3 scheme contained in Annexure-I/1, coupons to the beneficiaries have to be supplied in advance in order to ensure smooth supply of food grains every month. The concerned authorities, particularly, at block level must ensure that coupons are distributed well in advance in public shivir/ gathering as envisaged under the scheme so that in future the beneficiaries are not deprived of the benefits under the scheme. BKS/- (Shiva Kirti Singh, J.) (Dr. Ravi Ranjan, J.)