THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33964 of 2011 Date: 23.12.2011 Between: Ch. Mukunda Rao …. Petitioner And The District Collector (Civil Supplies), Warangal District and others. …. Respondents THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.33964 of 2011 ORDER: Heard Sri A. Prabhakar Rao, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents. Having regard to the short relief sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner for a direction to the 1st respondent to conclude the enquiry initiated in pursuance of the panchanama dated 21.11.2011 and not to dispose of the seized stock until then, this writ petition is disposed of with the consent of both the counsel at the admission stage. 2. The petitioner claims to be the proprietor of M/s. Narayana Ratna Industries, situated at Narsampet, Warangal District, holding a licence under the provisions of A.P. Scheduled Commodities Dealers (Licencing, Storage and Regulation) Order, 2008. The 2nd respondent-Deputy Tahsildar (CS), Narsampet, Warangal District, along with his staff visited the business premises of the petitioner on 21.11.2011 and seized the stock of paddy, rice and broken rice on the ground that there is variation between the book balance and the ground balance. A report to that effect was laid before the 1st respondent-District Collector (CS), Warangal District for appropriate action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for brevity “the Act”). Taking cognisance of the said report, the 1st respondent issued a show-cause notice under Section 6-B of the Act in proceedings ECAC.No.94/2011, RC.No.F1/1280/2011, dated 8.12.2011. On the same day, the 1st respondent also issued the impugned proceedings in ECAC.No.94/2011, RC.No.F1/1280/2011, dated 8.12.2011, directing the 3rd respondent-Tahsildar, Narsampet Mandal, Warangal District, to dispose of the seized stock by way of open auction. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. 3. The petitioner has filed this writ petition challenging the seizure by contending that the allegations are untrue and that he has not contravened any of the provisions of the said Control Order and he is prepared to participate in the enquiry and defend his case. It is further submitted that even before the allegations are enquired into, the 1st respondent has issued the impugned proceedings to dispose of the stock and in such an event he would suffer grave and irreparable loss. The learned counsel, therefore, submits that it would suffice if the 1st respondent is directed to complete the enquiry within a time frame and not to dispose of the seized stock till the conclusion of enquiry. 4. The learned Assistant Government Pleader has no objection for granting such direction. 5. 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. 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. 6. In the circumstances and also keeping in view the short relief sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner at the hearing, 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 21.11.2011 and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till conclusion of the said enquiry and final orders are passed, the seized stock of the petitioner shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. 7. Subject to the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. 8. In view of disposal of the writ petition, W.P.M.P.No.42256 of 2011 is dismissed as unnecessary. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 23.12.2011. NOTE: Issue C.C. today. (B/O) Msr THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33964 of 2011 23.12.2011 (Msr)