IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC WEDNESDAY, THE 11TH FEBRUARY 2009 / 22ND MAGHA 1930 WP(C).No. 4413 of 2009(A) ------------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------- KUZHIKKATTIL ABBAS ALI, S/0. KUNHEEDU MADANI, POST O.K. MURI, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY MR.C.M.MOHAMMED IQUABAL, ADVOCATE. RESPONDENTS: ------------------ 1. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT SUPPLY OFFICER, MALAPPURAM. 3. TALUK SUPPLY OFFICER, TIRURANGADI TALUK. BY MR. P.N. SANTHOSH, GOVERNMENT PLEADER. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/02/2009, ALONG WITH W.P.(C) No.4436/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C.) Nos.4413 & 4436 of 2009 --------------------------------- Dated, this the 11th day of February, 2009 J U D G M E N T The petitioners in these writ petitions are wholesale dealers of rice and other food articles. 2. According to them, the Civil Supplies authorities conducted inspection of their premises on 07/01/2009. As far as the petitioner in WP(C) No.4413/2009 is concerned, according to him, 70 bags of rice have been seized, and in so far as the petitioner in WP(C) No.4436/2009 is concerned, it is stated that 25 bags of rice have been seized. Consequent on this, proceedings initiated under the Essential Commodities Act are pending before the 1st respondent. 3. In the meanwhile, on the ground that the rice in question will be deteriorated, the petitioners have sought release of the rice by filing Ext.P5 applications. The petitioners state that orders have not been passed by the 1st respondent on the applications thus filed by them. In these writ petitions, all what they seek is an order requiring the 1st respondent, District Collector, to consider and pass WP(C) No.4413 & 4436/2009 -2- orders on the requests so made by them for release of the rice. 4. Having regard to the fact that the proceedings are pending before the 1st respondent before whom the petitioners have filed Ext.P5 applications seeking release of the rice seized from their premises, I direct the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P5 applications stated to have been made by the petitioners. This shall be done as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within three weeks of production of a copy of this judgment along with copies of these writ petitions. These writ petitions are disposed of as above. (ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE) jg