IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 19262 of 2008 Between: Potnuru Sahadev, S/o. Venkatappadu, Modern Rice & Ground Nut Oil Mill, Pakivalasa Village, Kotabommali Mandal, Srikakulam District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The District Supply Officer, Civil Supplies Department, Srikakulam. 2 The District Collector, Srikakulam District. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Aﬃdavit ﬁled herein the High Court will be pleased to issue appropriate Writ or order or direction mostly one which is in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of the 1st Respondent in seizure of the stock belonging to the petitioner on 25-8-2008 and initiation of steps under the Essential Commodities Act as illegal irregular, arbitrary, unjustiﬁed and unsustainable and direct the respondent to forbear from taking any further steps for disposal of or confiscation of seized stock. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.P.VEERA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following : THE HON’BLE Ms. JUSTICE G. ROHINI WRIT PETITION No. 19262 of 2008 O R D E R: This writ petition is ﬁled seeking a declaration that the action of the ﬁrst respondent in seizing the stock belonging to the petitioner under panchanama dated 25-08-2008 is arbitrary and illegal. At the outset, it is to be noted that pursuant to the impugned seizure, the enquiry under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 has already been initiated and the same is pending before the second respondent. As a matter of fact, the petitioner states that he has made an application for release of the seized stock on 27-08-2008, which is pending before the second respondent. Having regard to the facts and circumstances and having heard the learned counsel for both the parties, without expressing any opinion on merits, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the second respondent to consider the petitioner’s application for release of the seized stock and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till such time, the seized stock shall not be sold. Thereafter, the enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act shall also be concluded following due process of law within a period of four weeks. No costs. ______________ G. ROHINI,J Date: 05-09-2008 Note: Issue operative portion by wire. B/o KLP