THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.18026 of 2011 Date: 29.06.2011 Between: Malepati Suneel Kumar … Petitioner and The Joint Collector, Kadapa District, Kadapa and others. … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.18026 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri Malepati Suneel Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents, and with their consent the writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage. 2. This writ petition has been filed challenging the action of the 1st respondent in seizing the stock of the petitioner, pending the proceedings initiated under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”), as arbitrary and illegal. 3. The petitioner claims to be a trader in rice business. On 16.6.2011, the Inspector of Police, Porumamilla, along with his staff intercepted a lorry bearing No.AP04-X-128 belonging to the petitioner and found carrying 308 bags of public distribution rice. He also inspected the business premises of the petitioner and detected 788 bags of rice each 50 Kgs., 40 bags of rice each 40 Kgs., and 40 bags of rice each 25 Kgs. The inspecting officer seized the said stock of the petitioner under a panchanama dated 16.6.2011. The inspecting officer reported the matter for initiation of the proceedings under Section 6-A of the Act. It is stated that the petitioner has filed a petition before the 1st respondent seeking release of the stock contending that the said stock is not P.D.S. rice and that he purchased the same in the open market. During the pendency of the said application, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition for the aforesaid relief. 4. Even though the petitioner has challenged the action of the 1st respondent in seizing the stock, during the course of hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Act is likely to take some time and, in the meanwhile, if the seized stock is sold, the petitioner would suffer grave and irreparable loss. He, therefore, submits that the enquiry itself be directed to be completed within a time frame. 5. The learned Government Pleader does not object for the same. 6. Having regard to the said submission and also keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the 1st respondent to complete the enquiry proceedings initiated under Section 6-A of the Act and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as early as possible, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7. Subject to the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 29.06.2011. Msr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.18026 of 2011 29.06.2011 (Msr)