THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.18177 of 2009 DATE:07.09.2009 Between: Atmakuri Durga Prasad ... Petitioner and The Assistant Supply Officer, Circle II, Vijayawada, Krishna District and another ... Respondents THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.18177 of 2009 ORDER: This writ petition is filed by the petitioner seeking a Writ of Mandamus to declare the seizure of 115 quintals of rice belonging to him, as null and void. 2. Briefly, the case of the petitioner is that he is doing business in rice under a valid licence bearing No.408/VJA/2008 and it has expired on 30.04.2009, before which date i.e. on 20.04.2009, he already approached the District Supply Officer, Krishna District and submitted an application seeking renewal of his licence, through an agent and he is waiting for an order of renewal of his licence. While so, on 18.08.2009 the Assistant Supply Officer, Circle II, Vijayawada, Krishna District - 1st respondent surprised his business premises and without hearing him, seized 115 quintals of rice on the allegation that his licence is not renewed as on that date. Tthereafter, he reported the matter to the Collector, Krishna District - 2nd respondent, who in turn, initiated proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for short 'the Act'). The same is questioned in this writ petition. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. 4. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner has already filed an application before the 2nd respondent on 24.08.2009 seeking release of the seized stock on furnishing 10% of the value of the seized stock, but the 2nd respondent has not passed any order till date. In the light of the same, this Court is of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of with a direction to the 2nd respondent to look into the application of the petitioner and pass necessary orders thereon. 5. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of directing the 2nd respondent to look into the application of the petitioner dated 24.08.2009 and pass necessary orders thereon as to whether the petitioner is entitled for release of the seized stock and whether his licence has to be renewed or not, at the earliest. In the meanwhile, the seized stock shall not be sold. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________________________ GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA, J 7th September, 2009 CBS THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.18177 of 2009 (Disposed of) 7th September, 2009 CBS