THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION No.5073 OF 2010 DATED:05.03.2010 Between: Consumers Guidance Society, Vijayawada, Krishna District, rep., by its Secretary Chennupati Divakar Babu, S/o.Ch.Nageswara Rao (Late), Aged: 48 years, Secretary, Consumers’ Guidance Society, Sree Devi Complex, Y.V.Rao Street, Patamata, Vijayawada .. Petitioner And The Commissioner of Civil Supplies, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad .. Respondent THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION No.5073 of 2010 ORDER: The Consumers Guidance Society, Vijayawada, filed the instant Writ Petition seeking a writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Commissioner of Civil Supplies, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, in not including the consumer activist in the jury for giving consumer awards and not publishing the information in newspapers as illegal and arbitrary. The consequential direction to the official respondent to add one consumer activist in the jury and publish the advertisement in the newspapers is also sought. The respondent issued a circular bearing CCS.Ref.No.CA III(1)/304/2010 in February 2010 proposing to give awards in six categories to promote consumer awareness and to safeguard consumer rights. The awards are to be given in connection with weeklong celebrations from 15.03.2010 to 20.03.2010. While giving conditions of eligibility, the circular contemplates that the selection shall be done by the District Collector concerned through a jury which may include a District Court Lawyer, District Supply Officer and Assistant Supply Officer concerned. The said jury is required to provide ranking following the weightage of points mentioned therein. The grievance of the petitioner is that without there being a consumer activist, there is a possibility of selection process being vague and arbitrary. It is further grievance of the petitioner that the proposal to give awards has not been given wide publicity to enable all those interested who applies for the awards. Learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies made their submissions. Admittedly, the circular issued by the Commissioner is available on website www.apcivilsupplies.gov.in. It is sufficient publicity and the organization like the petitioner cannot expect the Commissioner to publish the same in the newspapers, which involves huge costs. Secondly, inclusion or non-inclusion of a consumer activist may not vitiate the process. The jury is required to have “outside expert” like the District Court Lawyer. Therefore, the petitioner can always suggest to the District Collector and submit a list of outside experts who are lawyers or non-lawyers for consideration. Ultimately, it is the District Collector to nominate the jury and it is not for this Court to direct the execution to nominate a particular person or persons as members of the jury. The Writ Petition is misconceived and accordingly it is dismissed. No order as to costs. ______________ (V.V.S. RAO, J) 05.03.2010 KH