HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.34289 of 2011 Date: 27-12-2011 Between M/s. Sri Ekalavya Traders, Tirupati, Chittoor district, Rep. by its Proprietor D.Naveen Kumar … Petitioner and The Joint Collector (C.S.), Chittoor district, Chittoor and another … Respondents HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.34289 of 2011 Order: In view of the short relief sought for in the writ petition and also at the hearing to direct the Joint Collector (C.S.), Chittoor district, the 1st respondent herein, not to sell the seized stock and to dispose of the representation of the petitioner dated 24-12-2011 within a time-frame, this writ petition is being disposed at the stage of admission, with the consent of Sri Bollam Lingaiah Yadav, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents 1 and 2. 2. The petitioner claims to be the Proprietor of M/s. Sri Ekalavya Traders, Tirupati, Chittoor district and carrying on business in food grains duly obtaining a licence. 3. The Deputy Tahsildar (Civil Supplies), Pitchatur Mandal, Chittoor district i.e. the 2nd respondent herein conducted inspection of the business premises of the petitioner and seized the available rice stock on the ground that the petitioner was conducting business without maintaining records properly and that there was variation in the stock between the ground balance and the stock register. A report to that effect is said to have been laid before the 1st respondent and appropriate action has been initiated under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 4. The petitioner states that the allegations made against it are untrue and that it is prepared to participate in the enquiry and defend its case. It also approached the 1st respondent by submitting an application on 24-12-2011 requesting to release the seized stock. The grievance of the petitioner is that even though the 1st respondent has not passed orders on the said application, he is proceeding to dispose of the seized stock in open auction even before the conclusion of enquiry. The learned counsel, therefore, submits that the 1st respondent be directed to conclude enquiry within time-frame and in the meanwhile, direct not to dispose of the seized stock. 5. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies has no objection to grant such directions. 6. Indisputably, the stock was seized on 23-12-2011 and even though the 1st respondent is competent to conduct enquiry, it is desirable that such an enquiry be conducted expeditiously in order to avoid hardship to the parties. 7. In the aforesaid circumstances, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the Joint Collector (C.S.), Chittoor district, the 1st respondent herein, to pass appropriate orders by concluding the enquiry pursuant to the panchanama dated 23-12- 2011, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of 8 (eight) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till final orders are passed, the seized stock shall not be sold. 8. In view of disposal of the writ petition, W.P.M.P.No.42671 2011 is dismissed as unnecessary. No costs. ___________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 27th December, 2011. Note:- Issue C.C. by tomorrow. (B/o) Ak HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.34289 of 2011 27th December, 2011. (Ak)