skc 1 WP-988-11 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE WRIT PETITION NO. 988 OF 2011 The Ichalkaranji Yarn Merchants Association ..Petitioner versus Collector Kolhapur & Ors. ..Respondents Mr. Surel Shah for Petitioner. Mr. N. P. Deshpande - Assistant Government Pleader for State – Respondent Nos. 1 to 4. CORAM : S. A. BOBDE AND SMT. V. K. TAHILRAMANI, JJ. DATE : NOVEMBER 14, 2011 P.C. : Rule, returnable forthwith. Mr. N. P. Deshpande waives service for respondent nos. 1 to 4. Heard finally by consent of parties. 2. The only contention raised by Mr. Shah, learned counsel for the petitioner is that the notice dated 14.11.2010 issued by the SDO, Ichalkaranji directing the petitioner Yarn Merchants Association, Powerloom Association etc. to appear before him for considering the question of rates of yarn is wholly illegal and unauthorised, the SDO having no such power. 3. Mr. Deshpande, learned Assistant Government Pleader fairly skc 2 WP-988-11 accepted the position that the SDO has no power in the matter of fixing of rates at which yarn should be sold. The learned Assistant Government Pleader however pointed out that the meeting has been convened because there is likelihood of law and order problem arising due to the rates at which the yarn is being sold by the petitioner association and therefore the SDO felt it appropriate to intervene in the matter and therefore issued notice. There is no material on record except statement of the SDO that the prices in yarn are likely to have resulted in law and order situation. Even if that was so, we are of the view that the SDO had no authority to require the petitioner association to attend the meeting for discussing the rates at which yarn should be sold particularly when he has no power in this regard. There are ample powers vested in the executive authorities to deal with law and order situations. None of the authorities have invoked those powers. 4. In the result, we are of the view that the SDO could not have validly convened any meeting for the aforesaid purpose and therefore the notice dated 14.11.2010 convening a meeting on 15.11.2010 is illegal and void and is accordingly set aside. Rule made absolute in the above terms. (S. A. BOBDE, J.) (SMT. V. K. TAHILRAMANI, J.)