THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33982 of 2011 Date: 23.12.2011 Between: B. Chencha Rao …. Petitioner And The District Collector (Civil Supplies), Warangal District and another. …. Respondents THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.33982 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 panchanamas dated 13.12.2011 and 14.12.2011 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. Aditya Traders, situated at Nekkonda Village and Mandal, Warangal District, holding a licence under the provisions of A.P. Scheduled Commodities Dealers (Licencing, Storage and Regulation) Order, 2008. The 2nd respondent-Grain Purchasing Assistant, Warangal, Warangal District, along with other officials of Civil Supplies Department inspected the house and godown of the petitioner on 13.12.2011 and also the business premises of the petitioner on 14.12.2011 and seized 851.52 quintals of red gram, 43 kgs of ground nut oil and 1.63 quintals of palm oil on the ground that there is variation of book balance when compared to 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”). It is stated that the petitioner has filed an application before the 1st respondent seeking release of the seized stock. 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 is taking steps 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 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 panchanamas dated 13.12.2011 and 14.12.2011 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.42274 of 2011 is dismissed as unnecessary. ________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 23.12.2011. NOTE: Issue C.C. by tomorrow. (B/O) Msr THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.33982 of 2011 23.12.2011 (Msr)