IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 15133 of 2009 Between: 1 D.Ratnam S/o.Pedda Pentaiah R/o.Ankalagudem, Koyyalagudem Mandal, West Godavari District. 2 Smt.D.Jayalakshmi W/o. Late D. Venkataramana R/o.Ankalagudem, Koyyalagudem Mandal, West Godavari District. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Chairman, Tobacco Board, Guntur, Guntur District. 2 The Auction Superintendent, Tobacco Board at Koyyalagudem, West Godavari District. ....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 Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the respondents herein in considering nor taking any action on the petitioners application dt. 27.11.2007 for grant of Tobacco Barn licence, as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents herein to consider the said application forthwith. Counsel for the Petitioners:MR.B.CHANDRA SHEKHAR Counsel for the Respondents: MR.S.SRINIVAS REDDY The Court made the following : Form-NIC-OGS/WP{KURR} THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 15133 of 2009 ORDER:- The petitioners, who claim to be cultivating tobacco in their fields situated in Ankalagudem, Koyyalagudem Mandal, West Godavari District filed this writ petition seeking a declaration that the inaction on the part of the respondents in considering their application made on 27.11.2007 for grant of tobacco barn licence as arbitrary and illegal and for a consequential direction to consider their application forthwith. Heard both sides. At the outset, it is to be noticed that as per the provisions of the Tobacco Board Act, 1975 and the Rules made thereunder, grant of registration or renewal is only for a period of one year and the crop season 2007-2008 expired long back. Having regard to the said undisputed fact, the prayer in this writ petition cannot be granted. However, the learned counsel for the petitioners sought permission to make a fresh application for the crop season 2009- 2010 and the learned counsel for the respondents did not oppose the same. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioners herein to make fresh application for grant of licence for the crop season 2009-2010. If any such application is made, the respondents shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. No costs. ___________ G. ROHINI, J Date:28.07.2009 bud THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 15133 of 2009 DATED:28.07.2009