THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.20511 of 2010 ORDER: In this writ petition, the petitioner has questioned the seizure of 7.57 quintals of groundnut oil, 1.35 quintals of sunflower oil and 65.35 quintals of palmolien and cotton seed oil, through panchanama dated 04.08.2010. The petitioner is a licensed dealer of edible oils. The second respondent-Tahsildar, Sircilla inspected his business premises on 04.08.2010 and verified the ground stocks with the book balances. On the ground that there were variations in the stock when ground balances were compared to book balances, the commodities referred to above were seized through panchanama dated 04.08.2010. Based on the seizure report, proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for short ‘the Act’) were initiated by the first respondent-Joint Collector (CS), Karimnagar District. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there was no variation in the stock and that without examining the ground stock with the book balance, such an allegation has been made. It is also submitted that the petitioner is the licensed dealer holding valid license, and therefore, there are no grounds to seize the commodity. In view of the allegations levelled against the petitioner, it is for the first respondent to consider whether the petitioner has committed any irregularity by violating the conditions of license and the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Schedule Commodities Dealers (Licensing, Storage and Regulation) Order, 2008. Since the enquiry is pending before the competent authority, this Court cannot examine the validity of the seizure at this stage. On instructions, the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies submitted that the petitioner was already issued show cause notice under Section 6-B of the Act vide proceedings No.G3/715/2010, dated 06.08.2010. In view of the nature of allegations made against the petitioner i.e., variation in stocks, and further taking into account the show cause notice, which was already issued on 06.08.2010, to the petitioner under Section 6-B of the Act, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the first respondent to dispose of Section 6-A proceedings by passing appropriate final orders, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be a further direction to the respondents not to sell the seized commodities till appropriate final orders are passed. It is also made clear that if there are any damages to the seized stock during the pendency of Section 6-A proceedings, the petitioner shall not claim any damages. With the above observations, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. R.SUBHASH REDDY, J Date: 23.08.2010 va