APHC010710612025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] TUESDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 36421/2025 Between: 1. SRI. VAJRALA VENKATA REDDY, , S/O. VENKATESWARA REDDY, F.P SHOP DEALER VIDE F.P SHOP NO 0826018, BUDAWADA VILLAGE, J. PANGULURU MANDAL, BAPATLA DISTRICT, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, R/O. D.N0.2-75B, BUDAWADA VILLAGE, J. PANGULURU MANDAL, BAPATLA DISTRICT-523167. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR CIVIL SUPPLIES, BAPATLA DISTRICT, BAPATLA-522101. 3. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, CHIRALA, BAPATLA DISTRICT-523155. ...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 tomay be pleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the respondent No. 2 to consider and dispose of the statutory appeal dated 02.12.2025 filed by the petitioner against the impugned proceedings Rc.H/1438/2025 dated 18.11.2025 passed by the 3rd respondent is illegal, 2 VS, J W.P.No.36421 of 2025 arbitrary, and contrary to the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, violative of the principles of natural justice, and infringes the fundamental rights of the petitioner guaranteed under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the 2 Respondent to consider and dispose of the statutory appeal filed by the petitioner dated 02.12.2025 within a 2nd reasonable period by providing opportunity of hearing and pass such 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 may be pleased to direct the 2nd Respondent to consider and dispose of the statutory appeal filed by the petitioner on 02.12.2025 within a reasonable period by providing opportunity of hearing, and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. GAJJALA MALLIKARJUNA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following: 3 VS, J W.P.No.36421 of 2025 ORDER: The present writ petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the respondent No. 2 to consider and dispose of the statutory appeal dated 02.12.2025 filed by the petitioner against the impugned proceedings Rc.H/1438/2025 dated 18.11.2025 passed by the 3rd respondent is illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, violative of the principles of natural justice, and infringes the fundamental rights of the petitioner guaranteed under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the 2 Respondent to consider and dispose of the statutory appeal filed by the petitioner dated 02.12.2025 within a reasonable period by providing opportunity of hearing…... ” 2. The grievance of the petitioner is that he has been working as a Fair Price Shop dealer for Shop No.0826018, Budawada Village, J.Panguluru Mandal, Bapatla District for more than 30 years without any complaint. However, the 3rd respondent cancelled his authorization vide proceedings dated 18.11.2025, without issuing any show-cause notice and without giving him an opportunity of hearing, which is contrary to the principles of natural justice and the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Control Order, 2018. Aggrieved by the said cancellation order, the petitioner filed a statutory appeal before the 2nd respondent on 02.12.2025. However, 4 VS, J W.P.No.36421 of 2025 the 2nd respondent has not passed any orders on the said appeal till date. Challenging the same, the present writ petition is filed. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. 4. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies, on oral instructions, admitted that the appeal is pending before the 2nd respondent and requested this Court to dispose of the Writ Petition by directing the 2nd respondent to complete the enquiry and dispose of the statutory appeal within a period of eight (08) weeks. 5. In view of the above, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing the 2nd respondent to complete the enquiry and dispose of the statutory appeal dated 02.12.2025 within a period of eight (08) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. ______________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date: 06.01.2026 KGR