IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.13661 of 2011 Manoj Kumar, son of Madina Singh, resident of Village- Netai Chak, P.S. Chandi, District- Nalanda ---- Petitioner. Versus 1. The Union Of India through Ministry of Food Corporation of India, New Delhi. 2. Food Corporation of India, through Chairman-cum- Managing Director, 16-20 Barakhambha Lane, New Delhi. 3. Executive Director (East Zone), Food Corporation of India, 10- Middtleton Row, Kolkata-71. 4. General Manager (Region) Food Corporation of India, Regional Office, Arunachal Building, Patna, Bihar. 5. Deputy General Manager (R.C.), Food Corporation of India, (Regional Office) Arunachal Building, Patna, Bihar. 6. Area Manager, Food Corporation of India, Regional Office, Arunachal Building, Patna. 7. Superintendent of Police, Central Bureau of Investigation, Patna, Bihar. 8. District Magistrate, Patna. ----- Respondents. ---------------------------------- 2. 23.8.2011 Heard Mr. Shyam Sunder Sinha ‘Shyam’ for the petitioner, learned Assistant Counsel to Mr. Prabhakar Tekriwal, Government Advocate No.1 learned counsel appearing for the Food Corporation of India, and Mr. Santosh Kumar Singh for the Union of India. The grievance in the writ petition is with regard to the irregularities committed by the Officers of the Food Corporation of India, Patna Regional Office in the purchase and procurement of food-grains under the scheme of the Central Government. The writ petition discloses the 2 instances where such irregularities have been committed and also mode and manner of such irregularities. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, we feel that the cause for which the writ petition has been filed appears to be bonafide and genuine. The scheme for procurement of food grains is meant for the purpose of benefiting the farmers so that they may get better price for their food-grains. The scheme being intended and targeted for those groups inasmuch as it provides for minimum support price to such farmers it should also be ensured that it is implemented properly. There are instances in the matter of procurement where due to various impediments, which are mostly created by the Officers themselves, the farmers are left with no option but to part with the food-grains to third parties at a much lower price than what they would have got directly under the procurement scheme of the Central Government. Be that as it may, at the first instance, we are not inclined to monitor the case at our level. It would be expedient for the petitioner to approach the respondents no. 3 and 4 with a detailed representation as raised in the 3 present writ petition for taking corrective and follow-up action with regard to setting their house in order specially with regard to ensuring that the scheme of procurement of the food-grains is implemented in its letter and spirit and the targeted groups for whom the benefit of such scheme is intended actually reaches them. If such a representation is filed within a period of six weeks from today the concerned respondents shall be obliged to look into the matter thoroughly and may also get an enquiry conducted and thereafter take proper action with regard to persons involved in the commission of such irregularities. This should also be followed by necessary corrective action so as to ensure that such malpractice does not occur in future. The said exercise must be completed within a period of three months from the date of filing of such representation alongwith a copy of this order upon the concerned respondents. The writ petition accordingly stands disposed off with the aforesaid directions. Vinay/ ( S. K. Katriar, J.) (Ahsanuddin Amanullah,J.)