THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33584 of 2011 Date: 20.12.2011 Between: Dodda Srinivasa Rao …. Petitioner And The Joint Collector, Krishna, Machilipatnam and another. …. Respondents THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.33584 of 2011 ORDER: Heard Sri Kowturu Vinaya Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents. Having regard to the short relief sought for by learned counsel for the petitioner for a direction to the 1st respondent to conclude the enquiry initiated in pursuance of the panchanama dated 18.6.2011 and not to dispose of the seized stock until then, this writ petition is disposed of with the consent of both the counsel at the admission stage. 2. The petitioner claims to be agriculturist owning an extent of Acs.7.18 cents at Jayanthi Village, Veerullapadu Mandal, Krishna District. On 18.6.2011, the 2nd respondent-Special Deputy Tahsildar (PDS), Kanchikacherla, Krishna District, inspected the houses of certain persons, namely Panam Mastan, Shaik Saleem, Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy, Shaik John Saheb and Shaik Hussain and found them storing rice meant for public distribution system. Therefore, alleging contravention of the provisions of the A.P. State Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2008, the entire stock was seized under panchanama dated 18.6.2011 and a report has been laid before the 1st respondent-Joint Collector, Krishna District, for initiation of an enquiry under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”). It is the case of the petitioner that the said stock belongs to him and he has stored the said stock in the houses of the said persons for the sake of convenience and has not committed any irregularity or contravened any of the provisions of the Control Order as alleged against him. The petitioner, therefore, filed an application seeking release of the stocks. However, the 1st respondent, while declining to release the stock, passed orders in proceedings ECP.No.143/2011, dated 16.11.2011 directing the Tahsildar, Veerullapadu Mandal to dispose of the seized stock to the cardholders. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is prepared to participate in the enquiry and defend his case and in the meanwhile, if the seized stock is sold, the petitioner would suffer grave and irreparable loss. The learned counsel, therefore, submits that the 1st respondent be directed to dispose of the enquiry within a time frame and in the meanwhile not to sell the seized stock. 4. I am not inclined to go into the merits of the case. Admittedly, an enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act is pending before the 1st respondent. In matters of this nature, the Statutory authorities are expected to pass orders expeditiously within a reasonable time. Since the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Act is likely to take some time, in the meanwhile, if the seized stock is sold, it might cause grave and irreparable loss to the petitioner. 5. In the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the 1st respondent to complete the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in pursuance of the panchanama dated 18.6.2011 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till conclusion of the said enquiry and final orders are passed, the seized stock of the petitioner shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. No order as to costs. 6. In view of disposal of the writ petition, W.P.M.P.No.41749 of 2011 is dismissed as unnecessary. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 20.12.2011. NOTE: Issue C.C. in two days. (B/O) Msr THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33584 of 2011 20.12.2011 (Msr)