- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3038 WP No. 101096 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO.101096 OF 2025 (GM-EC) BETWEEN: M/S KIRTHI INDUSTRIES NEAR DASANAL BRIDGE, POST: BASAPATTANA, TQ: GANGAVATHI, DIST: KOPPAL, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR, SRI VENKATAREDDY S/O. RAMAKRISHNAREDDY, AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS, R/O: RAMAPUR, TQ: GANGAVATHI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 227. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SRINAND A PACHHAPURE, SRI RAJENDRA PATIL, ADVOCATES) AND: 1. THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMERS AFFAIRS, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, ROOM NO.141/142, BENGALURU – 560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMERS AFFAIRS, NO.8, CUNNING HAM ROAD, BENGALURU – 560 001. 3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMERS AFFAIRS, KOPPAL, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 227. Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3038 WP No. 101096 of 2025 4. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMERS AFFAIRS, KOPPAL, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 227. 5. THE FOOD SHIRESTEDAR, TAHASILDAR OFFICE, GANGAVATHI, TQ: GANGAVATHI, DIST: KOPPAL – 583 227. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHARAD V. MAGADUM, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO THE RESPONDENT NO.3 TO RELEASE THE SEIZED 1531.25 QUINTALS OF RICE AND 495.50 QUINTALS OF BROKEN RICE BY CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION/REPRESENTATION DATED. 24/01/2022 MARKED AT ANNEXURE-E. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking a direction by issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus directing consideration of the representation in which the petitioner seeks release of seized 1531.25 quintals of rice and 495.50 quintals of broken rice. 2. The petitioner gets embroiled in crime in Crime No.213/2014 registered for the offences punishable under Section 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act read with Section 420 of the IPC. The Police after investigation had - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3038 WP No. 101096 of 2025 filed a charge sheet. The concerned Court tries the petitioner and acquits in terms of its order dated 10.01.2022 which is now become final. After the acquittal, the petitioner has submitted a representation. The said representation is not considered. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court in the subject petition. 3. Learned AGA would submit that in the light of the acquittal, if reasonable time is granted, the representation would be considered and appropriate action would be taken in terms of the representation. 4. The submission is placed on record. Therefore, I deem it appropriate to dispose the petition by directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 24.01.2022 for the purpose for which it is submitted and take necessary action by passing necessary orders in accordance with law. 5. The action taken shall be communicated to the petitioner. The aforesaid action should be taken within eight - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3038 WP No. 101096 of 2025 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, if not earlier. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE VNP/CT-ASC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 56