IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 19272 of 2009 Between: Sai Teja Traders, Yeragondapalem. . .Petitioner And The Joint Collector-II (Civil Supplies), Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad and another. .. Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO.19272 OF 2009 ORDER: The petitioner filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of Mandamus to declare the seizure of the stocks of 170 quintals of common rice of the petitioner by the 2nd respondent vide its panchanama dated 18.08.2009 as illegal, arbitrary, unjust and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents to release the seized stocks of 170 quintals of common rice forthwith. The brief facts are that the petitioner is the proprietor of Sai Teja Traders, Yeragondapalem and is running a rice mill. On 17.08.2009, he engaged a lorry bearing No.AP 27 W 9352 to transport of 170 quintals of common rice, packed in 340 bags and during the transit, the Deputy Tahsildar, 2nd respondent herein, intercepted the vehicle and seized the same on the ground that the said transport is without proper documents. Thereafter, the 2nd respondent reported the matter to the Joint Collector-1st respondent, who in turn initiated proceedings under Section 6-A of Essential Commodities Act. The petitioner immediately approached the 1st respondent and filed an application on 21.08.2009. But, however, no orders have yet been passed. Hence, the petitioner approached this Court and filed the present writ petition. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner is having all valid documents, but, however, the 2nd respondent without looking into the said documents seized the entire stock and the vehicle and reported as if the said transport is without having valid documents. It may not be necessary for this Court to go into the said aspect at this stage, for the reason that the petitioner had already filed an application dated 21.08.2009 before the 1st respondent. In that view of the matter, the 1st respondent-Joint Collector is hereby directed to consider the said application filed by the petitioner on 21.08.2009 and pass appropriate orders at the earliest, preferably within a period of four weeks. In the meanwhile, the stocks seized on 18.08.2009 shall not be sold. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission. No order as to costs. ________________________ GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA, J September 11, 2009 Note: Issue C.C. by two days. (B/o) KSH