THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.23253 of 2009 DATE:29.10.2009 Between: S. Ram Reddy ... Petitioner and The Joint Collector (CS), Ranga Reddy District and another ... Respondents THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.23253 of 2009 ORDER: This writ petition is filed by the petitioner seeking a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in seizing his lorry bearing No.AP 16V 1126, as illegal and arbitrary, and consequently, to direct them to release the same to him. 2. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that he is the owner of a lorry bearing No.AP 16V 1126 and it was engaged by one D.Krishna Reddy on hire for transporting PDS rice from Hafizpet to the fair price shop Nos.6, 210 and 232 situated at Kukatpally, Darga Lingampally and Jagatgirigutta respectively. While so, on 14.10.2009, the Assistant Supply Officer, Circle I, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy District - 2nd respondent inspected the fair price shop No.222 and seized the lorry along with the stock and initiated proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 against the dealer of said shop, the contractor and the driver of the lorry. As he is eking out his livelihood by hiring the lorry and the said seizure is causing any amount of hardship, he approached this Court and filed the present writ petition. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Government Pleader for Home. 4. Apparently, the petitioner is the owner of the lorry bearing No.AP 16V 1126 and prima facie it cannot be said that he is hand in glove with the dealer of the fair price shop No.222. In the light of the same and taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the view that the said vehicle can be ordered to be released in favour of the petitioner on condition of his furnishing third party security. 5. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of directing the respondents to release the lorry bearing No.AP 16V 1126 in favour of the petitioner on condition of his furnishing third party security equivalent to the value of the stock that was seized on 14.10.2009. There shall be no order as to costs. _________________________ GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA, J 29th October, 2009 CBS THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.23253 of 2009 (Disposed of) 29th October, 2009 CBS