THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33691 OF 2011 DATE:21-12-2011 BETWEEN Yamsani Srinivas … petitioner AND The Collector (CS), Karimnagar And others …Respondents THIS COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33691 OF 2011 ORDER: In view of the short relief sought for in the writ petition and the hearing as well to direct the Collector (CS), Karimnagar-first respondent herein to conclude the enquiry within a time frame and not to dispose of the seized stock until then, this writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage with the consent of Sri V.Ravi Kiran Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader. The petitioner claims to be the proprietor of Sri Manikyeshwari Rice Depot and is conducting business in food grains by duly obtaining licence under the provisions of A.P. Scheduled Commodities Dealers (Licencing, Storage and Regulation) Order, 2008. On 10.12.2011, the Deputy Tahsildar (CS), Vemulawada, Karimnagar District-third respondent herein inspected the business premises of the petitioner and seized the available stock of rice under a panchanama dated 10.12.2011 alleging that the petitioner is conducting clandestine business without obtaining permission from the concerned authorities and contravened the conditions of the aforesaid Control Orders. The third respondent laid a report to the said effect before the first respondent for appropriate action under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”). The petitioner approached the first respondent by submitting an application dated 16.12.2011 for release of the seized stock. Since the first respondent has not considered the said application and in the meanwhile, the seized stock is likely to be disposed of in public auction, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has not contravened the conditions of Control Orders and he has been conducting the business strictly according to law. The petitioner is prepared to participate in the enquiry and defend his case and if the seized stock is sold before the conclusion of enquiry, the petitioner will suffer irreparable loss. The counsel, therefore, submits that the first respondent be directed to conclude the enquiry within a time frame and not to dispose of the seized stock until then. The learned Assistant Government Pleader has no objection in granting such direction. I am not inclined to express any opinion on the merits of the case. It is true that once a report is laid alleging contravention of the said Control Orders, the first respondent is competent to initiate proceedings for eventual confiscation of the seized stock. In the instant case, the seized stock, being rice, is not perishable in nature. However, 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, it might cause grave and irreparable loss to the petitioner. In the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to complete the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in pursuance of the panchanama dated 10.12.2011 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. In view of the disposal of the writ petition, WPMP.No.41892 of 2011 is dismissed as unnecessary. _______________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. DECEMBER 21, 2011 NOTE: Issue C.C. in two days. (B/O) Tsr