THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.9988 of 2011 Date: 15.04.2011 Between: Shaik Ahammad Basha … Petitioner and The Assistant Supply Officer, Jammalamadugu, Kadapa and another. … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.9988 of 2011 ORDER : Heard Sri N. Niyatha, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as the learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents and with the consent of both the counsel, the writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage. 2. This writ petition has been filed to declare the action of the 1st respondent-Assistant Supply Officer, Jammalamadugu, Kadapa District, in seizing the groundnut stock of the petitioner, as arbitrary and illegal. 3. The petitioner claims to be an agriculturist and proprietor of Rahamath Groundnut Decorticating Factory, situated at Galiveedu, Kadapa District. On 23.2.2011, the Assistant Supply Officer, Jammalamadugu, along with the staff and other Panchayatdars inspected the said Mill and seized the stocks of 300 bags of Groundnuts, 243 bags of Ground seed (low quality) and 20 bags of Grade-I Groundnut seed, worth about Rs.4,33,500/- on the ground that the petitioner is conducting business of edible oils and edible seeds without obtaining food grain licence. The petitioner appears to have filed a petition before the 2nd respondent-Joint Collector, Kadapa, seeking release of the said stock contending that he is not carrying on any business in groundnuts and the stocks found partly belongs to some farmers named in the petition and he himself raised the groundnut crop in his own fields. Therefore, he contends that he does not require any licence and the seizure affected by the 1st respondent is illegal and without jurisdiction. 4. I am not inclined to express any opinion on the merits of the case. Inasmuch as the petitioner has already filed a petition before the 2nd respondent seeking release of the stocks, it is appropriate for the 2nd respondent to consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a time frame. 5. In the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the 2nd respondent-Joint Collector, Kadapa, Kadapa District, to consider the petition filed by the petitioner and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as early as possible, preferably within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till the said petition is disposed of, the seized stock of the petitioner shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. No order as to costs. _________________________ JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI 15.04.2011. Msr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.9988 of 2011 15.04.2011 (Msr)