HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.20782 of 2010 Date : 02.09.2010 Between : A. Satyanarayana Gupta. …..Petitioner And The Collector (Civil Supplies), Anantapur & another. …..Respondents HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.20782 of 2010 ORDER : In this writ petition, the petitioner has questioned the show cause notice, dated 14th August 2010, issued by the 1st respondent-Collector (Civil Supplies), Anantapur, in Rc.No.B6/1546/2010. The aforesaid notice is a show cause notice issued under Section 6-B of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, calling upon the petitioner to show cause as to why the seized stocks of 1191 bags of groundnut pods each of 30 kgs (357.3 quintals), should not be confiscated. On 12.06.2010, the Mandal Agricultural Officer, Bukkarayasamudram, along with the Vigilance and Enforcement Officials, have inspected the godown No.635-1 near Kasi Visweswara Temple, Bukkarayasamudram, Anantapur, and seized 1191 bags of groundnut pods, each weighing 30 kgs (357.3 quintals), worth Rs.14,11,335/-. Earlier, the petitioner approached this Court in W.P.No.15568 of 2010, claiming that he is the authorized processor of the District Oil Federation, Anantapur, having been appointed as such by the A.P. Co-operative Oil Seeds Growers Federation Limited, Hyderabad. It is the case of the petitioner that after processing the ground nut, the petitioner has stored the same in the godown of one Sri P.Satyanarayana, after informing the authorities. As such, it cannot be construed as unauthorized storage. The said writ petition was disposed of, by an order, dated 5th July 2010, permitting the petitioner to make an application alongwith documentary evidence, to substantiate his claim before the 1st respondent-District Collector, Anantapur, with a direction to the 1st respondent to consider the same. In this writ petition, it is the grievance of the petitioner that although he has claimed the seized stocks, respondents are taking steps for confiscation of stocks, without even giving notice to him. During the course of hearing, the learned Government Pleader has produced the notice, dated 20th of August 2010, issued in Rc.No.B6/1546/2010, fixing the date of hearing as 23rd of August 2010 at 4 p.m. However, it is stated that the matter was adjourned to a further date. Although the petitioner has sought for directions to the respondents for release of stocks, but as this Court is of the view that respondents have already initiated proceedings and issued show cause notice under Section 6-B of the Act, and a date was also fixed for hearing on 23rd of August 2010, and the petitioner has also filed representation before the 1st respondent, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the 1st respondent to pass appropriate final orders in the matter, pursuant to the show cause notice, dated 14th August 2010, issued by the 1st respondent-Collector (Civil Supplies), Anantapur, in Rc.No.B6/1546/2010, by hearing the petitioner and also by considering his claim that the said commodity was supplied through the District Oil Federation, Anantapur, for the purpose of processing, and pass final orders within a period of two weeks from today and communicate the same to the petitioner. Writ petition is disposed of, subject to the above directions. No order as to costs. ______________________ R. SUBHASH REDDY, J 2nd September 2010 N.B: Office to dispatch the copy of order by tomorrow. (b/o) ajr