HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION Nos.26397 of 2008 and 26404 of 2008 ORDER: These writ petitions are filed by the licensed kerosene oil hawkers of Veerullapadu Mandal and Kanchikacharla Mandal in Krishna District assailing the action of the Civil Supplies authorities in seeking to transfer the cards allotted to them to the fair price shop dealers in their areas of operation. 2. This Court granted interim directions in both the writ petitions to continue the new cards allotted to the petitioners for the purpose of distribution of kerosene oil to the card holders pending disposal of the writ petitions. 3. Sri V.H.V.R.R. Swamy, learned counsel for the petitioners, submitted that under the A.P. State Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2008 (for short ‘Control Order’), nominated retailers/hawkers are authorised to deal with Public Distribution System Kersene Oil for sale and distribution to the card holders. He therefore contended that the move on the part of the respondent authorities to divert the cards from the nominated retailers/hawkers to the fair price shop dealers was not only counter productive to their interest but also in violation of the scheme of the Control Order. 4. The Joint Collector, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, filed his counter stating that pursuant to the orders of this Court in W.P.No.20474 of 2004, the Commissioner of Civil Supplies, A.P., had held consultations with the Associations of fair price shop dealers and hawkers for the purpose of rationalising the system of distribution of kerosene oil. It is stated that pursuant to these deliberations, a decision was taken to attach the new cards issued with Iris Bio Metric System to fair price shop dealers for the purpose of distribution of kerosene. However, he went on to state that instructions had been issued to the Tahsildars and the Asst. Supply Officers in the District not to disturb the cards already attached to the hawkers. 5. Sri V.H.V.R.R Swamy, learned counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the decision to favour the fair price shop dealers only, insofar as issuance of new cards is concerned, is already the subject matter of challenge before this Court in other cases. Learned counsel stated that insofar as these two writ petitions are concerned, the grievance is limited to the action of the authorities in transferring the cards attached to the nominated retailers/hawkers to the fair price shop dealers. 6. With regard to this grievance, the stand of the Joint Collector, Krishna District, makes it clear that instructions have already been issued to the competent authorities not to disturb the cards already attached to the nominated retailers/hawkers. In the light of this specific statement made in the counter, it is clear that the petitioners’ grievance on this count needs no further adjudication by this Court. 7. The statement of the authorities that the cards attached to the petitioners and existing as on the date of filing of the writ petitions would not be disturbed is taken on record and the writ petitions are accordingly closed. There shall be no order as to costs. _____________________ JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR 18th April, 2011 Note: Issue CC in one week. (B/o.VJL)