APHC010302442025 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: 15237/2025 Between: 1. G BHASKAR BABU, S/O. DIBBAIAH, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, OCC. FAIR SHOP DEALER, F.P. SHOP NO. 0840013, R/O.PEDACHERLOPALLI VILLAGE, PEDACHARLOPALLI 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, PEDACHARLOPALLI 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 topleased to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ Order or direction declaring the action of the respondent no.2 in issuing the suspension order by suspending the authorization of the petitioner vide proceedings in Rc. No. B/688/2024 dated 29.05.2025 2 is illegal, arbitrary and violation of Articles 14,19 21 of constitution of India consequently set aside the same 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 to suspend the proceedings issued by the 2ND respondent vide proceedings in Rc. No. B/688/2024 dated 29.05.2025 by continuing the petitioner as a F.P shop dealer in Shop No. 0840013, situated Pedacherlopalli Village, Pedacharlopalli Mandal, Prakasam District. By enabling him to supply to the card holders pending disposal of the above Writ Petition and pass 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 29.05.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent vide Rc.E/688/2024 suspending the petitioner’s authorization in respect of Fair Price Shop No.0840013, Pedacherlopalli Village, Pedacherlopalli Mandal, Prakasam District, the present writ petition is filed. 2. Heard Sri 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 would contend that the authorities, alleging variations in the PDS rice found during inspection of the Fair Price shop, issued show cause notice, for which the petitioner submitted explanation, however, the authorities, without considering the explanation, in a mechanical way, suspended the authorization of the petitioner without giving 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, prayed to allow the writ petition. 4. Sri Appasani Vineeth, learned Assistant Government Pleader, justified the impugned order of suspension contending that as the 1 2020(6) ALD 209 4 authorities found variation in between fortified rice, suspended the authorization of the petitioner, pending final enquiry, after following the procedure contemplated under law. He would further contend that the writ petition being meritless deserves dismissal. Accordingly, prayed to dismiss the writ petition. 5. Perused the material available on record and considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 6. The petitioner’s Fair Price shop dealership authorization was suspended pending enquiry. This Court vide orders dated 24.06.2025, suspended the impugned orders directing the respondents to continue the petitioner as 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 the disciplinary case filed against the fair price shop dealers as early as possible, preferably within a period of three (03) months from the date of filing, keeping in view of the convenience of the cardholders and for smooth functioning of Targeted Public Distribution System. 8. It is fairly conceded by the learned Assistant Government Pleader that enquiry had not been completed so far. 5 9. In view of the above, 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 an earliest. Till conclusion of 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 6 219 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO.15237 of 2025 16th February, 2026 cbn