THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO :25864 of 2007 DATED: 06-11-2009 Between: Kondepudi Satyanarayana. ..... PETITIONER And The District (E-Seva) A.P., Online service, A.P.Information and Communication Department, B.R.K.Bhavan, Hyderabad & 3 others. .....RESPONDENTS O R D E R: Petitioner is an operator of Rural Service Delivery Point (RSDP) at Amalapuram. One of the services entrusted to him was the collection of bills payable to A.P. Eastern Power Distribution Corporation Limited (for short “the Corporation”). The 1st respondent is an Online Service, which provides the software. The online service to the petitioner was disconnected by the 1st respondent, on a complaint sent by the 3rd respondent, to the effect that the petitioner is issuing manual receipts to the consumers, and without passing on the amount to the Corporation. The petitioner challenges the action of the respondents. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Communications appearing for the respondents 1 & 4 and the learned counsel for the respondents 2 & 3. 3. On behalf of the 1st respondent, it is stated that the online service to the petitioner was disconnected, on a fax message received from the 3rd respondent. Learned counsel for the respondents 2 & 3 submits that his clients were compelled to get the online service to the petitioner disconnected, on account of the acts and omissions, resulting in hardship to the consumers and financial loss to the Corporation. 4. Whatever may have been the basis for the respondents, in proceeding against the petitioner, they were under obligation to issue a notice to him, before the online service was disconnected. Unverified and unnotified grounds or allegations, cannot constitute the basis for such a severe action. 5. Therefore, the writ petition is allowed, and the respondents are directed to restore online service to the petitioner, within one week. It is, however, made clear that it is open to the respondents, to issue notice to the petitioner and take necessary action, in accordance with law. It is also directed that, in case the petitioner misappropriates any amount collected by him, either temporarily or otherwise, it shall be competent for the respondents, to proceed against him, to recover the amount, as well as to institute criminal proceedings. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ T.GOPALAKRISHNA,J 06th November, 2009. Tsy