THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION Nos.18373, 18374, 18375, 18376, 18377, 18378, 18379, 18380, 18382, 18383, 18386, 18387, 18388, 18389 AND 18390 of 2009 23.03.2010 Between: K.Prabhakar Rao and others ….Petitioners AND The Joint Collector, Nellore and others. …Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION Nos.18373, 18374, 18375, 18376, 18377, 18378, 18379, 18380, 18382, 18383, 18386, 18387, 18388, 18389 AND 18390 of 2009 COMMON ORDER: A short question is involved in these writ petitions and therefore, it is expedient to dispose of these writ petitions by common order. For a cursory understanding of background of the cases, the facts in W.P.No.18373 of 2009 may be noticed. The first petitioner is the partner of a rice mill and second petitioner is the owner of a lorry. The fourth respondent herein seized two lorries bearing Nos.AP 26W 6939 and AP 26W 9927, at the midnight of 23.082009, when they were found allegedly loaded with 345 bags (each bag of 74 kgs) of para boiled rice, and a report was submitted to first respondent. The rice was being transported to Kerala and statedly they were covered by proper way bills. After coming to know about the seizure, petitioners moved applications before first respondent on 28.08.2009 for release of vehicles and seized stock. When orders were not passed, they filed instant writ petitions. In all other writ petitions, the facts are similar. This Court, on 01.09.2009, while ordering notice before admission passed interim orders directing first respondent to release the stock seized to respective petitioners. When the cases were called on 15.03.2010, it was brought to the notice of this Court that first respondent already passed orders under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (the Act, for brevity) vide proceedings in Rc.B.458/09 etc on 27.08.2009. The Court gave time to produce the copies of these orders. Today, the copies are produced. Counsel for petitioners raised an objection with regard to orders passed under Section 6-A of Act. These orders were not preceded by notices issued under Section 6-B of the Act. As per the said provision, prior notice before passing confiscation orders is mandatory. Therefore, the orders are void in the eye of law. The matter may have to be considered afresh by Joint Collector after giving notice to all the petitioners under Section 6-B of the Act. Therefore, the matters are remanded to Joint Collector with a direction to issue notice as contemplated under Section 6-B of the Act and pass appropriate orders after giving opportunity to petitioners. The writ petitions are accordingly disposed of. No costs. _______________ (V.V.S.RAO, J) 23.03.2010 Pln