The Hon’ble Sri Justice Noushad Ali Writ Petition No.11902 of 2011 Between: B.Ravi Kumar ..... Petitioner AND 1.The Government of A.P., rep. by its Prl.Secretary, Civil Supplies ad Consumer Affairs Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and 4 others. .....Respondents Counsel for the petitioner: Mr.V.Ravi Kiran Rao Counsel for the respondents: GP for Civil Supplies The Court made the following: Order: Heard Sri V.Ravi Kiran Rao, learned Counsel for the petitioner, and the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies representing the respondents. With their consent, the Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission. The petitioner claims to be the proprietor of Sai Ram Rice Traders situated at Peddi Complex, Jyothinagar, Karimnagar District. Respondent Nos.3 and 5 i.e., the District Supply Officer and the Assistant Grain Purchasing Officer of Karimnagar inspected the premises of the petitioner and seized various quantities of the essential commodities available therein under a panchanama alleging that the petitioner was indulging in clandestine business while dealing with essential commodities thereby contravened Clause 11 and Condition Nos.11, 3, 8 (1) (2) (3) & 9 of the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Commodities (Licensing and Regulation) Order, 2008. Based on the said inspection, respondent No.2- Joint Collector (Collector (CS)) has initiated proceedings for confiscation of the seized stock under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for short ‘the Act’). He has also issued a showcause notice under Section 6-B of the Act. It is stated that the petitioner has also filed an explanation to the said showcause notice denying the allegations and also praying for the release of the seized stock. As the request for release of the seized stock has not been acceded to, he filed this Writ Petition seeking a direction to respondent Nos.2 and 4 not to sell the seized stock pending disposal of the enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act. It is indisputable that the petitioner is the proprietor of Sri Sai Ram Rice Traders conducting business in the essential commodities and that proceedings have been initiated against him under Section 6-A of the Act proposing to confiscate the seized stock alleging certain violations. The petitioner seeks to contend that he has not contravened any of the conditions nor has he indulged in any clandestine business. At this stage, I am not inclined to consider the matter on merits. Suffice it to state that the petitioner has already responded to the showcause notice, dated 22-03-2011, and submitted his explanation denying the allegations. Therefore, I deem it appropriate that the enquiry itself shall be directed to be completed within a time frame. In the circumstances, the second respondent is directed to complete the enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act in pursuance of the showcause notice No.G3/210/2011, dated 22-03-2011, as early as possible, preferably, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The stock seized from the premises of the petitioner shall not be sold or disposed of until the conclusion of the said proceedings. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ (Noushad Ali, J) Date: 26th April, 2011 Note: CC in two days. (B/o) lur