APHC010293272025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3332] MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 14901/2025 Between: 1. SRI GANGIREDDY VENKATA RATNAM, W/O GANGIREDDY ANJI REDDY, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCC FAIR PRICE SHOP DEALER, SHOP NO. 0813024, R/O BHOTLAPALEM VILLAGE, DARSI MANDAL, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, KANIGIRI DIVISION, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. 3. THE TAHSILDAR, DARSI MANDAL, PRAKASAM DISTRICT ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toleased to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ Order or direction declaring the action of the respondents particularly the 2ND respondent in cancelling the authorization of the petitioner vide Rc. E/318/2025 dated 30.05.2025, is illegal, arbitrary and violation of Article 14,19 21 of Indian Constitution. 2 Consequently, set aside the same by continuing the petitioner as Fair price dealer for shop No. 0813024, situated at Bhotlapalem Village, Darsi Mandal, Prakasam District, and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased suspend the operation of the proceedings issued by the 2"^^ respondent vide Rc. E/318/2025 dated: 30.05.2025, by continuing the petitioner as a Fair price dealer for shop no. 0813024 situated at Bhotlapalem Village, Darsi Mandal, Prakasam District, pending disposal of the above Writ Petition and pass s Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. K SRINIVAS Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following: 3 O R D E R: Questioning the proceedings dated 30.05.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent vide Rc.E/318/2025, suspending the petitioner’s authorization in respect of Fair Price Shop No.0813024, Botlapalem Village, Darsi Mandal, the present writ petition is filed. 2. Heard M/s. K. Srinivas, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri Appasani Vineeth, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, while reiterating the contents of the writ affidavit, contended that the authorities, alleging that the petitioner’s husband is involved in criminal and political activities and is managing the conduct of the Fair Price Shop which stands in the name of his wife, issued a show-cause notice. The petitioner submitted an explanation to the said notice; however, the authorities, without considering the explanation, mechanically suspended the authorization of the petitioner without assigning reasons, in violation of the orders passed by this Court in K. Prabhavathi vs. State of A.P 1. Therefore, the impugned suspension order is liable to be set aside. Accordingly, he prayed to allow the writ petition. 1 2020(6) ALD 209 4 4. Sri Appasani Vineeth, learned Assistant Government Pleader, justified the impugned order of suspension contending that, as the authorities found that the petitioner’s husband is involved in criminal and political activities and is managing the conduct of the Fair Price Shop standing in the name of his wife, the authorization of the petitioner was suspended pending final enquiry, after following the procedure contemplated under law. He further contended that the writ petition, being devoid of merit, deserves to be dismissed. Accordingly, he prayed to dismiss the writ petition. 5. This Court has perused the material available on record and considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties. 6. The petitioner’s Fair Price Shop dealership authorization was suspended pending enquiry. This Court, vide order dated 24.06.2025, suspended the impugned order and directed the respondents to continue the petitioner as the Fair Price Shop dealer. 7. Clause 8(4)(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2018 mandates that the appointing authority shall dispose of the disciplinary case filed against Fair Price Shop dealers as early as possible, preferably within a period of three (03) months from the date of filing, keeping in view the convenience of the 5 cardholders and for the smooth functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System. 8. It is fairly conceded by the learned Assistant Government Pleader that the enquiry has not been completed so far. 9. In view of the above circumstances, without going into the merits of the matter, this Court is inclined to dispose of the writ petition by passing the following order: “The authorities shall conclude the enquiry at the earliest. Till the conclusion of the enquiry, the interim orders passed by this Court on 24.06.2025 shall continue.” 10. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI 16th February, 2026 cbn 6 223 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO.14901 of 2025 16th February, 2026 cbn