IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 16920 of 2009 Between: Balduri Venkataiah and Others ..... PETITIONER(S) AND The District Collector Nalgonda District, Nalgonda And others. .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a writ, order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in seizing stocks of paddy of BPT variety belonging to the petitioners / farmers which is subject matter of proceedings No. CS1/1395/09 Dt: 22.07.2009 on the file of the District Collector, Nalgonda (1st respondent) as being arbitrary, illegal and violative of principles of natural justice, Article 14 & 21 of the Constitution of India, consequently set aside 1) the order passed by the 1st respondent dt; 22.07.2009 in proceedings No.CS 1/1395/09 2) the notice under Section 6 B of the Essential Commodities Act, issued by the 1st respondent Dt: 27.07.2009 inproceedings No. CS1/1395/09 and pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.HARENDER PRASAD Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 16920 of 2009 ORDER: 1 The petitioners who are farmers approached this court and filed the present Writ Petition stating that they raised B.P.T. paddy crop in their fields and stored the same in the godown belonging to one Lakshmi Ganapathi Storage godown. It is further stated that the respondent authorities surprised the said godown and seized the entire stock on the ground that they are not having valid licence. Thereafter on the report furnished by the Assistant Supply Officer, proceedings under Section 6 A of the Essential Commodities Act have been initiated by the Collector and that the Collector is now contemplating to sell the seized stock by way of public auction. 2 Heard both sides. 3 Having regard to the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners that proceedings under section 6 A of the Essential Commodities Act have already been initiated, this court is of the view that this Writ Petition can be disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to complete the said proceedings at the earliest, preferably, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till such time the seized stocks of paddy of B.P.T. variety seized from the petitioners shall not be sold by way of public auction. 4 The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. No order as to costs. ---------------- 18.08.2009 kvsn