IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 15506 of 2004 Between: The Hyderabad Retail Kerosene Shop, Dealer's Welfare Association, Circle - V,rep by its Vice President, Gulam Mohammed, S/o Noor Mohammed, R/o. 11-2-1002/3, Bazar Ghat, K.S.No. 5057, Hyderabad. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Chief Rationing Officer (Civil Supplies), Hyderabad. 2 The Asst. Supply Officer, Circle - V, Nampally, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENTS 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 preferably a writ in the nature of mandamus or any appropriate writ directing the respondents to allot new ration cards to members of petitioner's association for supply of Kerosene to card holders basing on the representation dt. 06-08-2004. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.A.RAJASEKHAR REDDY Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1&2: GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: This writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondents to allot the new ration cards to the members of the petitioner Association for the purpose of supplying kerosene to the card holders. 2. In the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition it is stated that all the members of the petitioner Association are entirely dependent for their livelihood on the income derived from the supply of kerosene. It is also stated that new ration cards issued under Janmabhoomi Scheme are allotted to Fair Price Shop dealers and they are also supplying kerosene to the new card holders. But the members of the petitioner- Association were not allotted new ration cards for supply of kerosene though such benefit has been extended to the retail kerosene dealers of Ranga Reddy District. In the circumstances, the petitioner-Association made a representation on 06.08.2004 requesting the first respondent-the Chief Rationing Officer (Civil Supplies), Hyderabad to look into the matter and to allot the new ration cards in favour of the members of the petitioner Association, however, the first respondent failed to take any decision on their representation so far. Hence, this writ petition. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. 4. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and since the representation of the petitioner is pending before the first respondent, without expressing any opinion with regard to the entitlement of the petitioner-Association for allotment of the ration cards as sought by them, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the first respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 06.08.2004 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 5. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of at the admission stage. No costs. _________________ 31st August, 2004 To 1 The Chief Rationing Officer (Civil Supplies), Hyderabad. 2 The Asst. Supply Officer, Circle - V, Nampally, Hyderabad. 3 Two CCs to the Government Pleader for Civil Supplies, High Court Building, Hyderabad. (OUT) 4 Two C.D. copies. Note: CC by one week. (Bo) sj/gbs