THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM WRIT PETITION No.19445 of 2002 ORDER: Heard Sri S.Bhooma Goud, learned counsel for the petitioner. There is no representation on behalf of the respondent despite the name of the learned Government Pleader for Revenue Endowments /Civil Services appearing in the cause list. There is no counter-affidavit on record either. The Petitioner challenges the order of the respondent – Revenue Divisional Officer, Nalgonda, dated 20.09.2002, cancelling the authorization of the petitioner in respect of a fair price shop in Voilapally Village, Narayanapur Mandal, Nalgonda District. The order reads as under: “The Authorisation of Smt.D.Jagadishwari Fair Price Shop dealer of Voilapally village was suspended vide reference 2nd cited due to irregularities committed by Fair Price Shop Dealer in distribution of Food for work Rice. Subsequently a show cause notice issued vide reference 3rd cited and the dealer submitted explanation vide reference 4th cited. But his explanation is not convincing. The District Collector, (CS) Nalgonda vide reference 5th cited has issued instructions for cancellation of Authorization of Fair Price Shop dealers who are committed irregularities in distributing the Food for work Rice. In view of above the authorization of Smt.D.Jagadishwari Fair Price Shop dealer, Voilapally village is hereby cancelled.” The order of the respondent does not have any trappings of rule of law requirement. It reads like the diktat of an absolute monarch rather then a State Actor exercising public power in a Constitutional democracy. To compound the arbitrariness, the respondent has also not chosen to file a counter-affidavit. In the circumstances, this Court by the order, dated 04.10.2002, has stayed the order at the stage of admission. For the aforesaid reasons, the writ petition is allowed with costs of Rs.5,000/- (rupees five thousand only) payable by the respondent to the petitioner, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. It is open to the State of Andhra Pradesh to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the incumbent of the office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Nalgonda, who passed the impugned order, after following the due process of law for passing such a casual, irrelevant and unreasoned order, in abuse of all minimal requirements of fair and reasonable behaviour by a public servant. ___________________ GODA RAGHURAM, J Dt:20.01.2011 kdl/ndr