THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.14066 of 2011 Date: 27.09.2011 Between: Vennampalli Anandam … Petitioner and The Collector (CS), Karimnagar District, Karimnagar and another. … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.14066 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri K. Venumadhav, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents, and with their consent the writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage. 2. This writ petition has been filed seeking to declare the action of the respondents in seizing certain essential commodities from the business premises of the petitioner, as arbitrary and illegal, and consequently to direct the respondents not to sell the seized stocks till completion of the proceedings initiated under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 3. The petitioner claims to be the Managing Partner of Venampalli Rajamouli MR & OM, situated at Jammikunta, Karimnagar District and engaged in the business of food grains. On 3.5.2011, the 2nd respondent-Tahsildar, Jammikunta Mandal, Karimnagar District, along with his staff inspected the petitioner’s business premises and seized 9,875 quintals of paddy, 270.50 quintals of rice and 105.00 quintals of broken rice under a panchanama dated 3.5.2011 on the ground that there was some variation in the said stock. Based on a report submitted in that regard, the 1st respondent-Collector (CS), Karimnagar District, has initiated proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”). As the respondents are taking steps to dispose of the seized stock during the pendency of the said enquiry proceedings, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition for the aforesaid relief. 4. The short grievance presented by the learned counsel petitioner is that during the pendency of the proceedings under Section 6-A of the Act, the respondents are taking steps to dispose of the seized stock and in which event the petitioner would suffer grave and irreparable loss. The learned counsel, therefore, submits that the 1st respondent be directed to complete the enquiry within a time frame. 5. I am not inclined to express any opinion on the merits of the case, since an enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act is pending against the petitioner. However, in matters of this nature, the Statutory authorities are expected to conduct the enquiry and pass appropriate orders expeditiously within a time frame. 6. In the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the 1st respondent to complete the enquiry initiated against the petitioner under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in pursuance of the panchanama dated 3.5.2011 and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till finalisation of the said enquiry proceedings, the seized stock of the petitioner shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. No order as to costs. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 27.09.2011. Msr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.14066 of 2011 27.09.2011 (Msr)