THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION NO.26109 OF 2006 Between : 1. Modia Raghu Ram, S/o. Ramamurthy, Khalasi, R/o. 30th Ward, Kothapaharam, Vizianagaram, and others. …... PETITIONERS And 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh rep. by the Secretary for Civil Supplies, Secretariat, Hyderabad, and another. …....RESPONDENTS Counsel for the petitioner: Sri Balaji Nedamalli Counsel for the respondents: G.P. for Civil Supplies. The Court made the following. ORDER: Heard Sri Balaji Nedamalli, learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader of Civil Supplies. The petitioners, Khalasis, rendering services for loading and unloading of stocks in the godowns of the A.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation, have filed this writ petition to direct the respondents to engage their services at the godowns in preference to others. The petitioners claim that they are labourers engaged for loading and unloading stocks at Dasannapet Civil Supplies godown, Vizainagaram and that they have no other source of income except as labourers at the said godown. It appears that the State Government, in order to ensure speedy supply of stocks to various fair price shops located in different Mandals of Vizianagaram District, took a policy decision to establish two more godowns at Nellimarla and Gurla Mandals. As the establishment of the said two additional godowns would impact on the volume of work of the petitioners, they have filed this writ petition for the aforesaid relief. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioners solely rely on the loading and unloading of stocks for their livelihood and if the work is reduced by establishing additional points they would suffer without adequate wages for maintaining their families. The learned counsel would in the alternative submit that in the event of the additional stock points being established, the petitioners are entitled to be engaged in preference to newcomers. It is true that initially stock point was located at Dasannapet. The 2nd respondent-Corporation undertakes the distribution of essential commodities through the public distribution system through various fair price shops located in different Mandals. Since the Mandal Head Quarters of the District are located at considerable distance from the existing stock point, it was thought fit to establish additional points to ensure fast distribution of the commodities. This being a policy decision and in the interest of the public, the policy cannot be faulted nor this Court can intervene in such policy matters. The limited grievance of the petitioners, however, is that in the event of opening new stock points, the petitioners be preferred to the newcomers. Admittedly, the petitioners have been working as labourers and solely depending on the work relating to loading and unloading of stock at the godowns. Having regard to the same, the respondents would consider engaging the services of the petitioners first in preference to newcomers as their experience would certainly be beneficial in loading and unloading job. With the above observations, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 14th December, 2010 Js.