THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE B.PRAKASH RAO and THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.Y.SOMAYAJULU WRIT PETITION No.5224 of 2008 ORDER: (Per the Hon’ble Mr Justice B.Prakash Rao) Heard Sri Shaik Jeelani Basha, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Commercial Tax, who takes notice on behalf of the respondent, and at their request, the main writ petition itself has been taken up for disposal at the stage of admission. The only grievance of the petitioner is that though a regular appeal has been filed along with stay application long back in the year 2006 on the file of the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, Additional Bench, Visakhapatnam, no orders have been passed so far. Learned Government Pleader for Commercial Tax appearing for the respondent submits that only due to non-receipt of records from the court below, the appeal as well as the stay application have not been taken up for disposal. Be that as it may, since the appeal is pending for consideration before the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, Additional Bench, Visakhapatnam, we do not go into the merits of the case. However, we feel that the interests of justice would have been met, if stay is granted pending disposal of appeal, subject to deposit of half of the disputed tax. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of granting stay pending disposal of the appeal on a condition of the petitioner depositing half of the disputed tax within four weeks from today. For four weeks, there shall be unconditional stay and stay shall continue till disposal of the appeal, provided the amount is deposited within the stipulated time. Further, the appellate authority shall consider and dispose of the appeal in accordance with law, after giving notice of hearing to the parties concerned. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ 18-03-2008 Prv