THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.30679 of 2010 Date: 07.12.2010 Between: Kolli Prasada Rao ..... Petitioner AND State of A.P.rep.by its Joint Collector & Addl.District Magistrate, Guntur and another .....Respondents Counsel for the Petitioner: Sri M.Brahma Reddi Counsel for Respondents: AGP for Civil Supplies The Court made the following: ORDER: This writ petition is filed for a mandamus to set aside order, dated 09.11.2010, of respondent No.1, whereby he has directed respondent No.2 to take delivery of the seized stocks of 80.50 qtls. of rice and 45 kgs of broken rice. The petitioner is a food grains dealer. While he was transporting 57.50 qtls. of rice through lorry bearing registration No.AP 16 V 4217, the same was intercepted and seized by the officials of the civil supplies department on the allegation that the rice was meant for public distribution. The petitioner’s business premises was also inspected on the same day i.e., 25.10.2010 and found certain variations in the stock position. On the basis of the report submitted by the Vigilance Department, respondent No.1 has initiated proceedings under Section 6A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for short ‘the Act’). By order, dated 09.11.2010, respondent No.1 has directed to take delivery of the seized stocks from the custodian and dispose of the same through public auction. Sri M.Brahma Reddi, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner has not committed any irregularity and that on suspicion that the rice seized from the lorry was meant for public distribution, the same along with the stocks lying with the petitioner’s business premises, were seized. Having regard to the facts of this case and pendency of the proceedings under Section 6A of the Act, I am of the opinion that interests of justice would be met, if the seized stocks are released subject to the petitioner furnishing immovable property security by deposit of title deeds for the value of the seized stocks. Ordered accordingly. The furnishing of security as directed above shall be subject to the result of the proceedings under Section 6A of the Act pending before respondent No.1. Subject to the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. As a sequel to disposal of the writ petition, W.P.M.P.Nos.39046 and 39047 of 2010 filed by the petitioner for interim relief are disposed of as infructuous. C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J Dt.07.12.2010 Note: Issue CC in three days (b/o) VGB