IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY FRIDAY, THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN WRIT PETITION No.4588 of 2011 Between: Madireddi Vinod Kumar. … Petitioner And The Divisional Forest Officer (South), Bhadrachalam, Khammam District and others. … Respondents Counsel for the petitioner: Sri Badana Bhaskara Rao. Counsel for the respondents: GP for Forests. This Court made the following: ORDER:- This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to declare the inaction of respondent No.1 in releasing “Mahindra Marshal 2000 4WI vehicle” bearing registration No.AP07 AS 3384, as illegal and arbitrary. The petitioner is the owner of the above mentioned vehicle, which was seized when the same was allegedly found carrying the forest produce “Jitregi sizes” on 25-11-2010 at 5-00 AM. The petitioner made an application on 9-12-2010 before respondent No.1 for release of the seized vehicle under Sections 44(3) and 51 of the A.P. Forest Act, 1967. The grievance of the petitioner is that so far the said application has not been disposed of and that the vehicle is exposed to sun and rain, causing deterioration in its value. Inasmuch as the proceedings before respondent No.1 for confiscation of the said vehicle are pending, it would be in the interest of justice that the vehicle is released to the petitioner subject to his furnishing bank guarantee for its value as assessed by the Motor Vehicles Inspector concerned. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the direction to respondent No.1 to release the vehicle of the petitioner subject to his furnishing bank guarantee for its value. The petitioner shall not sell or create any third party rights over the seized vehicle and shall produce the same as and when it is required in connection with the confiscation proceedings before respondent No.1. ----------------------------- ------- C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY,J Date:25-2-2011 Note: Issue CC by Monday. (BO) MNR