IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12018 of 2010 1. Raushan Ara @ Roshan Ara W/O Late Syed Zeyauddin R/O Vill.- Bitho Sharif, P.S.- Chandauti, Distt.- Gaya, Bihar Versus 1. The State Of Bihar Through The Collector, Gaya 2. The Sub Divisional Officer, Sadar Gaya At Gaya, Distt.- Gaya ----------------------- 02 12.09.2011 Heard Mr. Amar Nath Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Amresh Kumar, learned A.C. to G.P.18 for the State. The petitioner was granted a dealership under the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as the “Order”), as notified by the State of Bihar vide GSR 1 dated 20.02.2007. The petitioner is a licence holder since 1995 bearing Licence No. 1 of 1995. The Licence of the petitioner has been renewed from time to time. On certain allegations set out against the petitioner, she was served with a show case notice vide letter No. 721 dated 18.04.2008 (Annexure-1) requiring her to respond to the irregularities pointed out in the said notice. The petitioner responded to the show cause notice by submitting her explanation on 22.04.2008(Annexure-2). The respondent No.2, the Licensing Authority-cum-Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Gaya by order dated 25.06.2008 upon consideration of the explanation submitted by the petitioner, was pleased to pass the impugned order canceling the Licence of the petitioner. The petitioner being aggrieved by the order passed by the Licensing Authority on 25.06.2008 has 2 preferred a statutory appeal as provided under the Order on 02.08.2008. Upon non-consideration of the appeal and non-disposal thereof, she has filed the present writ petition. Mr. Amar Nath Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the situation is such that the Appellate Authority being the Collector, Gaya has yet not taken up the appeal for disposal and the matter remains at the same stage at which the present writ petition was filed. The appeal having been preferred by the petitioner merited disposal by the Appellate Authority after affording opportunity to the petitioner. The Appellate Authority vested with the quasi judicial powers cannot sit over the appeal for such long period to be taken upon as per his own convenience, when the statutory period for disposal of an appeal as provided under the Order is 60 days. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent No.1, the Collector, Gaya-cum- Appellate Authority under the Order to consider and dispose of the appeal preferred by the petitioner against the order of cancellation dated 25.06.2008 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Gaya in accordance with law within a maximum period of eight weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the order after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. Bibhash (Jyoti Saran, J.)