IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 891 of 2005 Between: 1 M.Satyanarayana S/o.Musalayya Kakinada Rural Mandal, East Godavary Dist. 2 G.Gangaraju S/o.Venkatarao Kakinada Rural Mandal, Vakalapudi (V),East Godavary Dist. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Joint Collector E.G.District at Kakinada. 2 The Revenue Divisional Officer Kakinada,East Godavari Dist. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to issue appropriate writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus directing the respondents particularly the 1st respondent herein to return the ration cards to the concerned card holders numbering 252 including the petitioners herein which were seized on 17-9-2004 from Fair Price shop dealer of shop No: 25 of Vakalapudi village, kakinada Rural mandal, East Godavari district in the interest of justice by considering the representation dt 25-10-2004. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.K.VENKATESH Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court at the admission stage made the following : ORDER: The petitioners claim that themselves and about 250 other cardholders of Vakalapudi Village, Kakinada Rural Mandal, East Godavari District, have kept their ration cards with the dealer for the sake of convenience and all the ration cards were seized by the authorities of the Civil Supplies Department. Representations, dated 25.10.2004, are said to have been made to return the cards and it is alleged that no action has been taken thereon. They seek appropriate direction to the respondents. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. On 17.09.2004, the authorities of Civil Supplies Department have seized about 250 ration cards from the dealer, on the ground that no proper explanation was offered for possession of such a huge number of cards. The petitioners claim that the cards were kept by the cardholders with the dealer for the sake of convenience. Truth or otherwise of this assertion needs to be examined by the respondents. It is not known as to whether the cards seized by the respondents are genuine or fake ones. Since the petitioners themselves have come forward, the 2nd respondent shall examine the representation and pass appropriate orders thereof, within a period of four weeks from today. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 11.02.2005 Jsu To 1 The Joint Collector E.G.District at Kakinada. 2 The Revenue Divisional Officer Kakinada,East Godavari Dist. 3 Two CCs to GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES, High Court of A.P., Hyderabad (O.U.T.) 4 2 CD copies