PATNA, India, Sept. 22 -- Patna High Court issued the following judgment on Aug. 22:

1. The Writ petition is filed seeking a direction upon the respondent authorities for payment of the admitted dues of transportation & handling charges amounting to Rs. 25,38,129/- for the period of the year2014-15.

2. The brief facts, as culled out from the Writ petition are that the petitioner had entered into an agreement with the Bihar State Food & Civil supplies Corporation (BSFC) on 09.01.2015 for the purpose of milling and purchase centers. Accordingly, he deposited the (Customed Mill Rice) CMR within the stipulate time. As per the direction of the District Manager, Madhepura, arrangements were made for transportation and handling of paddy for milling. Later, the petitioner submitted a bill to the tune of Rs. 28,38,129/- in the month of March, 2015, but respondents neither responded nor released any amount against the said bill, for which, the present Writ petition was filed.

2.During the course of arguments, it is submitted by the Learned counsel for the petitioner that he intends to file a fresh representation before the respondent No. 1 for payment of the admitted dues, and the same may be considered by the authorities

3.On the other hand, the Learned counsel for the respondents also contended that the petitioner may file a fresh representation along with the relevant documents, as ten long years have lapsed for considering the case of the petitioner.

4.At this juncture, the Learned counsel for the petitioner reported that the original documents have already been submitted to the BSFC.

5.Heard the Learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the Learned counsel for the respondents.

6.In the aforesaid circumstances, this Court directs the petitioner to file a fresh representation before respondent No. 1, enclosing therewith xerox copies of the relevant documents, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of this order. In turn, the concerned authority shall conclude the entire exercise within a period of three months from the date of filing of the representation, after considering the relevant documents. It is needless to say that the respondents shall give an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner before passing any order.

8. With the aforesaid observations, the Writ petition stands disposed of.

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