THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.31124 of 2011 Date: 25.11.2011 Between: S. Kavitha … Petitioner and The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Civil Supplies Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and others. … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.31124 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Ms. P. Rajani Reddy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents. Having regard to the limited relief sought for at the hearing to direct the 2nd respondent to dispose of the appeal within a time frame, with the consent of both the counsel the writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage. 2. The petitioner is a Fair Price Shop dealer of Peddullapalli Village of B. Kodur Mandal, Rajampet Division, Kadapa District. On receipt of information that the petitioner is not distributing essential commodities properly to the cardholders, the Assistant Supply Oﬃcer, Rajampet Division, conducted an enquiry and submitted a report dated 8.8.2011 to the 3rd respondent-Revenue Divisional Oﬃcer, Rajampet, Kadapa District, alleging the following irregularities: 1. The F.P. Shop dealer Smt. K. Kavitha was not present during the time of inspection and benami Sri S. Ramakrishna Reddy was present. 2. The F.P. Shop dealer has not commenced distribution upto 5.8.2011. 3. Stock cum Price board was not displayed in the said F.P. Shop. 4. The Sugar is being issued @ Rs.7.50 per ½ Kg. instead of Rs.6.75 and Atta @ Rs.17/- instead of Rs.16.50. 5. The F.P. Shop dealer is not distributing the Redgram Dal and Atta to the cardholders regularly. 6. Authorisation and weights measurement certificate were not produced for verification. 3. Taking cognizance of the said report and the nature of allegations, in particular, that the shop is being run by a benami, the 3rd respondent issued proceedings Ref.D/1345/2011, dated 11.8.2011 suspending the authorisation of the petitioner pending ﬁnalisation of the disciplinary proceedings. Aggrieved by the said orders, the petitioner has ﬁled an appeal before the 2nd respondent-District Collector, Kadapa District, along with a petition seeking stay on 12.9.2011 in terms of Clause 20 of the A.P. State Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2008. The grievance of the petitioner is that even though considerable time has elapsed, the 1st respondent has neither considered the said appeal nor passed any orders on the stay petition. Therefore, the petitioner has ﬁled the present writ petition challenging the said orders of the 3rd respondent suspending her Fair Price Shop authorisation. 4. Even though the petitioner has challenged the order of the 3rd respondent suspending her Fair Price Shop authorisation, during the course of hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since an appeal along with the stay application has been ﬁled on 12.9.2011, the 2nd respondent be directed to dispose of the said appeal within a time frame. 5. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies has no objection for issuing such a direction. 6. Indisputably, an appeal along with the stay application has been ﬁled on 12.9.2011. Even though considerable time has elapsed, the 2nd respondent has neither considered the said appeal, nor passed any orders on the stay petition. In matters of this nature, the Statutory authorities are expected to pass appropriate orders expeditiously within a time frame so as to avoid hardship to the parties. 7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the limited relief sought for at the hearing, the writ petition is disposed of directing the 2nd respondent to dispose of the appeal ﬁled by the petitioner against the order dated 11.8.2011 of the 3rd respondent and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No order as to costs. 8. In view of disposal of the writ petition, the W.P.M.Ps. pending, if any, are dismissed as unnecessary. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 25.11.2011. NOT E: Issue C.C. in three days. (B/O) Msr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.31124 of 2011 25.11.2011 (Msr)