THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.21737 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri V.H.V.R.R.Swamy, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing on behalf of the respondents and having regard to the short relief prayed during the course of hearing for a direction to the 2nd Respondent not to sell the seized stock pending enquiry under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, this Writ Petition is being disposed of at the admission stage with the consent of both the learned counsel. The petitioner claims to be a licensee bearing No.ADB/11/2008 issued under the provisions of A.P. Scheduled Commodities Dealers (Licensing, Storage and Regulation) Order, 2008 authorizing him to deal with the scheduled commodities. On 01-07-2011 and 02-07-2011 the business premises of the petitioner was inspected by the 1st Respondent-Assistant Supply Officer along with other staff and found huge quantities of scheduled commodities viz., red gram, red gram dal, Bengal gram, Bengal gram dal and Soyabeen. It was detected that the petitioner failed to maintain books of accounts properly storing huge quantities of the stock in an unauthorized place without entering the same in the stock register and that the quantity of stock exceeded the permissible limits. The stock was thereupon seized under panchanama dated 02-07-2011. A report to that effect was laid before the 1st Respondent under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act for eventual action of confiscation. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that taking cognizance of the aforesaid report, the 2nd Respondent has issued show cause notice dated 27-07-2011 under Section 6-B of the Essential Commodities Act contemplating to conduct enquiry and even before the enquiry is completed, the 2nd Respondent is taking steps to sell the seized stock in the open market. The counsel submits that if the stock is sold even before the enquiry is concluded, the petitioner will be put to serious loss and hardship. It is therefore submitted that the 2nd Respondent be directed to finalize the enquiry by passing appropriate orders within a time frame. Indisputably, the stock was seized on 01-07-2011 and 02-07-2011 and considerable time has elapsed since then. In matters of this nature the 2nd Respondent who is a statutory authority is expected to take expeditious steps so as to avoid loss and prejudice to the parties concerned. In the aforesaid circumstances, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the Writ Petition directing the 2nd Respondent to conduct enquiry and finalize the proceedings by passing appropriate orders in pursuance of the show cause notice under Section 6-B of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, dated 27-07-2011 as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. Till the orders are passed, the seized stocks shall not be sold. The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 02nd August, 2011 Note : Issue C.C. by tomorrow. B/O skmr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.21737 of 2011 Date : 02-08-2011 Between : M/s.Makharia Agro Tech. Pvt. Ltd., rep. by Manager Ch.Bhumesh, son of Ramchander, aged 42 years, Occ : Business, resident of Light Industrial Area, Adilabad, Adilabad District .. Petitioner and Assistant Supply Officer, Office of District Supply Office, Adilabad, Adilabad District and another .. Respondents