THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.21865 of 2011 Date: 03.08.2011 Between: M/s. Sri Sai Varalakshmi Agro Foods Rice Milling and Trading, Vizianagaram District. … Petitioner and The District Collector, Vizianagaram and another. … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.21865 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri N. Siva Reddy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents, and with their consent the writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage. 2. The petitioner is engaged in rice business in the name and style of M/s. Sri Sai Varalakshmi Agro Foods Rice Milling and Trading, situated at Kotarubilli Village, Gantyada Mandal, Vizianagaram District. On 25.7.2011, the Assistant Civil Supply Officer, Vizianagaram Revenue Division and other officials inspected the petitioner’s rice mill and found certain variations in the stock. The said stock was seized under a panchanama dated 25.7.2011. Basing on a report submitted by the Assistant Civil Supply Officer, Vizianagaram, initiating proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”), the 1st respondent-District Collector, Vizianagaram District, passed the impugned order in C.C.No.44/2011 G6, dated 28.7.2011, directing the 2nd respondent-District Supply Officer, Vizianagaram, to dispose of the seized stock through public auction. The petitioner states that he filed an application dated 29.7.2011 before the 1st respondent seeking release of the seized stock. However, since the 1st respondent passed the impugned order dated 28.7.2011 to dispose of the seized stock, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. 3. Admittedly, an enquiry under Section 6-A of the Act is pending before the 1st respondent. In matters of this nature, the Statutory authorities are expected to pass orders expeditiously within a reasonable time frame. Since the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Act is likely to take some time, in the meanwhile, if the seized stock is sold, it might cause grave and irreparable loss to the petitioner. 4. In the circumstances, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the 1st respondent to complete the enquiry initiated under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in pursuance of the panchanama dated 25.7.2011 and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till the conclusion of the said enquiry and final orders are passed, the seized stock of the petitioner shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. 5. Subject to the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 03.08.2011. Msr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.21865 of 2011 03.08.2011 (Msr)