APHC010260972026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3331] MONDAY, THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 14414/2026 Between: 1. VADLAMUDI VENKATAPRASAD, S/O LATE RAMACHANDRAIAH NAIDU, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, 1- L 0A, OCC F.P. SHOP DEALER, GUNDLAPALLI VILLAGE, T.SUNDUPALLI MANDALAM, KADAPA DISTRICT - ANDHRA PRADESH – 516130. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT -522237 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -517325. 3. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER/SUB COLLECTOR, RAJAMPETA , ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 516115. 4. THE TAHSILDAR CIVIL SUPPLIES, T.SUNDUPALLE MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -516130. 5. THE VILLAGE REVENUE OFFICER, GUNDLAPALLE VILLAGE, T.SUNDUPALLE MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -516130. 6. YALLAMANCHI LAVANYA, C W/O REDDY SEKHAR NAIDU, D.NO. 1/1, GUNDLAPALLE VILLAGE, T.SUNDUPALLE MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -516130. ...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 to issue a Writ, Order or direction particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 3rd respondent in issuing an impugned order dated 22.04.2026 in File No.RDORJP-WROCS/5/2026-DT- TAH(NDL )- RJPTDVSN in favor of the 6th respondent without consideration of the villagers representation dated 25.11.2025, my representation dated 24.12.2025 and non- consideration of proceedings in File No.RDORJP- WROCS(REP)/3/2025 - SA(1)-RDO-RJPT dated 16.12.2025 related to Fair Price Shop No.114603 8 of Gundla Palli village, T.Sundupalli Mandal, Annamayya District without following due process of Law is illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable, violation of Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct to suspend the impugned Order of the 3rd Respondent dated 22.04.2026 in File No.RDORJP- WROCS/5/2026-DT-TAH(NDL)-RJPTDVSN in favor of the 6th respondent herein and to pass such other order or order as this Hon'ble court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case IA NO: 1 OF 2026 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 Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. D KISHORE KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following order: Heard Sri D.Kishore Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vineeth Appasami, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies for the respondents 1 to 5. The notice in respect of the 6th respondent is dispensed with, since no adverse order is passed affecting the interest of the 6th respondent. Page 3 of 6 2. The petitioner’s father, late Sri Vadlamudi Ramachandraiah Naidu, was appointed as a permanent dealer of Fair Price Shop No.1146038 of Gundla Palli Village, T.Sundupalli Mandal, Annamayya District, vide Ref.B.3961/83 dated 13.11.1983. The petitioner’s father, due to his ill health, died on 07.09.2025. Till his last breath, the petitioner’s father continued as the Fair Price Shop Dealer. After the death of the petitioner’s father, the respondent authority permitted the petitioner to continue the distribution of essential commodities, without issuing any proceedings. The villagers made a representation dated 25.11.2025 (Ex.P4) to the 3rd respondent to continue the petitioner as the Fair Price Shop Dealer. The 5th respondent recorded the statement of the petitioner. 3. Be that as it may, the 3rd respondent by proceedings vide File No.RDORJP-WR0CS/5/2026-DT-TAH(NDL)-RJPTDVSN dated 22.04.2026 (Ex.P8), appointed the 6th respondent as the temporary dealer. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that no reasons were assigned to discharge the petitioner as a fair price dealer. 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies would submit that the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.4 Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies (CS-I) Department dated 28.02.2014, for appointment of legal heirs of deceased Fair Price Shop Dealers, as Fair Price Shop Dealers on compassionate grounds. As per the said G.O., the person seeking such appointment should have completed 18 years and not crossed 50 years as on the date of death of the Fair Price Shop Dealer. He would submit that the appointment of the 6th respondent is only a temporary measure and the same is permissible in terms of Clause 8-(5) of the Andhra Pradesh Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2018. 6. Thus, as seen from the material available on record, there is no dispute that the petitioner’s father was appointed as the Fair Price Shop Dealer in respect of Shop No.1146038 of Gundla Palli Village, T.Sundupalli Mandal, Annamayya District, vide Ref.B.3961/83 dated 13.11.1983 and continued as the dealer till his death dated 07.09.2025. Thereafter, according to the petitioner, according to averments, continued as a dealer till Ex.P8 proceedings. Having pleaded, however, no proceedings of the 3rd respondent, appointing or continuing the petitioner, temporarily, as the Fair Price Shop Dealer were filed before this Court. In the absence of such proceedings, if any, this Court may not appreciate the said contention. 7. The 6th respondent was appointed as the Fair Price Shop Dealer temporarily as per Clause-8(5) of the Andhra Pradesh Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2018. In fact, as seen from the language employed in the Order, any temporary appointment is for a period of three months or till the vacancy is filled permanently, whichever is earlier. 8. As per G.O.Ms.No.32 Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies (CS.I) Department dated 03.12.2018, the guidelines issued for the selection and appointment of the Fair Price Shop Dealers under the Andhra Pradesh State Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order, 2018. As per the said G.O., all vacancies of Fair Price Shops shall be notified through print media on the 1st of every month by the Appointing Authority and invite applications from the candidates for selection and appointment as Fair Price Shop Dealers. 9. In the case at hand, the temporary appointment of the 6th respondent was made vide Ex.P8 for three months. Insofar as the request of the petitioner for his continuation as the dealer is concerned, it is for the competent authority to take an appropriate decision strictly in accordance with the applicable Rules. 10. Given the facts and circumstances of the case, without going into the merits of the matter, the writ petition is disposed of, at the stage of admission, with the consent of all the learned counsel, directing the learned 3rd respondent to consider the representation dated 25.11.2025 (Ex.P4) and pass appropriate orders strictly as per the Rules, as expeditiously as possible. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI Date: 15.06.2026 SNI 172 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 14414 OF 2026 Date: 15.06.2026 SNI