THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY Writ Petition No.23625 of 2008 ORDER: 1 All the petitioners are kerosene hawkers. In this Writ Petition they seek a direction by way of mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in trying to tag on the new ration cards to the Fair Price Shop dealers by deleting the new cards from the petitioners as null and void. 2 Petitioners are licencees under the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Petroleum Products (Licencing and Regulation of Supplies) Order, 1980. Kerosene is one of the essential commodities being supplied under the Public Distribution System. Hitherto there was a separate licence for supply of kerosene either through retail kerosene dealers or hawkers. The petitioners are the hawkers who are being supplied kerosene for distribution to the cardholders. It is the grievance of the petitioners that the old cards are being substituted by biometric system cards and after issuing new cards they are being attached to the Fair Price Shop Dealers depriving their business and the licence granted to them. Precisely it is the case of the petitioners that as they are valid licence holders for supply of kerosene, the new cards which are being issued under biometric system cannot be tagged on to the Fair Price Shop dealers by deleting from the shops held by the petitioners. 3 Though there is a lengthy counter, it is not necessary to refer to all the averments made in the counter in view of the short question that arise for consideration. In para No.7 of the counter affidavit it is clearly stated that the new cards are being tagged on to the Fair Price Shop dealers and there is no deletion of cards from the hawkers. In fact, as per the policy decision of the State Government, all the new cards are allotted and attached to the Fair Price Shops only and therefore, the question of deletion of new cards from the hawkers does not arise. It is further stated that the allotment of kerosene oil for all the old cards which were existing prior to issue of Iris cards is being continued to the petitioners and there are no changes in the existing cards. 4 From the averments in the counter, it is clear that a policy decision has been taken to make available all the essential commodities under one roof. In spite of the same, without disturbing the cards, which were attached to the hawkers, the new cards, which are to be issued are being tagged on to the fair price shops. Inasmuch as no deletion of cards, which are attached to the shops of the petitioners, who are hawkers, which is evident from the stand of the respondents, as stated in para No.7 of their counter affidavit, it appears, only on a mere apprehension the present Writ Petition has been filed. When the cards, which are already attached to the shops of the petitioners, are not being discontinued, there will not be any grievance for the petitioners if new cards are attached to the fair price shops. In that view of the matter, placing on record the stand of the respondent that the old cards, which are attached to the petitioners-hawkers are being continued, without disturbing the supply to them, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. -------------------------- R.Subhash Reddy, J. 20.10.2011 Kvsn