IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 11792 of 2009 Between: M.Vishnuvardhan S/o.Ramana Reddy Vottambedu(V) Tada (M) Nellore District ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The District Collector(Civil Supplies) Chittoor District,Chittoor District 2 Dy. Tahasildar(CS) Chittoor,Chittoor District .....RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.P.GANGA RAMI REDDY Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following: ORDER: Two loads of raw rice and boiled rice, along with lorries bearing registration Nos.AP 04 V 1141 and AP 03 U 175, were seized by the Department of Civil Supplies as far back as 16-01-2009. The main allegation, on which the said stock was seized, was that raw rice was being transported at the bottom portion of the lorry by loading boiled rice on the upper side. Therefore, suspecting that the raw rice was being transported outside the State clandestinely, the stocks were seized. Though seizure has taken place on 16-01-2009, the petitioner has not applied for release of the stocks. However, the owners of the lorries got their vehicles released. By order dated 01-06-2009, respondent No.1 directed interim disposal of 197 bags of raw rice and 118 bags of boiled rice through special counter at Rythu Bazaar, Chittoor. At the hearing, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies submitted that the prices, at which, ordinary raw rice and fine rice are being sold in Rythu Bazaar are Rs.15-75 ps and Rs.20/- respectively. Sri P.Gangi Rami Reddy, learned Counsel for the petitioner, submitted that while the petitioner can have no objection to sale of raw rice at the above-mentioned price depending upon its quality in Rythu Bazaar, he requested the Court to direct the respondents to release boiled rice on his furnishing immoveable property security for its value. I find this request of the learned Counsel for the petitioner reasonable because, ordinarily, there is no shortage of boiled rice in the State and public interest will not suffer, if the same is released to the petitioner on his furnishing appropriate security. In this view of the matter, the Writ Petition is disposed of in the following terms: (1) The respondents are permitted to sell 197 bags of raw rice through special counter at Rythu Bazaar, Chittoor, as ordered by respondent No.1 in his proceedings dated 01-06-2009, at the rates mentioned hereinabove depending upon its quality and; (2) The respondents shall release 118 bags of boiled rice to the petitioner subject to his furnishing Bank guarantee for 50% of its value and third party security for the balance 50% and; (3) The sale of raw rice and release of boiled rice shall be subject to the outcome of the proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. As a sequel to disposal of the Writ Petition, WPMP.No.15186 of 2009 filed by the petitioner for interim relief is disposed of as infructuous. ___________________________ (C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J) 17th June, 2009 LUR