APHC010004332026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH MONDAY,THE TWENTIETH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 491/2026 Between: 1. CHERUKURI BHAGYALAKSHMI, W/O. NAGESWARARAO, AGED 57 YEARS, R/O, D.NO. 3 MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 522238 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 522004 3. THE DISTRICT CIVIL SUPPLIES OFFICER, GUNTUR DISTRICT,ANDHRA PRADESH. 52200 4. THE MANDAL REVENUE OFFICER CIVIL SUPPLIES, PRATHIPADADU MANDAL. GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.522019 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 direction or order, more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAM 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY,THE TWENTIETH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 491/2026 CHERUKURI BHAGYALAKSHMI, W/O. NAGESWARARAO, AGED 57 YEARS, R/O, D.NO. 3-124, YANAMADALA VILLAGE PRATHIPADU MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522019 ...PETITIONER AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA THE DISTRICT CIVIL SUPPLIES OFFICER, GUNTUR DISTRICT,ANDHRA PRADESH. 522007 THE MANDAL REVENUE OFFICER CIVIL SUPPLIES, PRATHIPADADU MANDAL. GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA ...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 direction or order, more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS assailing the action of the Respondent RC,J W.P.No.491 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3332] MONDAY,THE TWENTIETH DAY OF APRIL THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI CHERUKURI BHAGYALAKSHMI, W/O. NAGESWARARAO, AGED 57 124, YANAMADALA VILLAGE PRATHIPADU 522019 ...PETITIONER THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA THE DISTRICT CIVIL SUPPLIES OFFICER, GUNTUR THE MANDAL REVENUE OFFICER CIVIL SUPPLIES, PRATHIPADADU MANDAL. GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA ...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 direction or order, more particularly one in the US assailing the action of the Respondent RC,J W.P.No.491 of 2026 2 Authorities Especially 3rd and 4th Respondents in highhandedly issuing the impugned online deletion of the Ration Card vide WAP073601100173 and Rice Card vide Rice Card No 2812892343 attached to Shop No. 0736012 which is loacated at Enamadala Village Prathipadu Mandal Guntur District . through which the supply of Essential Commodities to the petitioner will be stopped without issuing any notice to the petitioner , without calling for records as illegal, colourable exercise of power, in violation of principles of natural justice, non-application of mind, discriminatory and violative of Article 14,19, Article 21, of the Constitution of India and consequently set aside the said impugned online deletion in Ration Card vide WAP073601100173 and Rice Card vide Rice Card No 2812892343 attached to Shop No. 0736012 which is loacated at Enamadala Village Prathipadu Mandal Guntur District. and restore the same in favor of petitioner, and to pass 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 Pleased to direct the 3rd and 4th Respondents to continue the supply of commodities in Ration Card vide WAP073601100173 and Rice Card vide Rice Card No 2812892343 attached to Shop No. 0736012 which is loacated at Enamadala Village Prathipadu Mandal Guntur District pending disposal of the main writ petiiton and to pass IA NO: 2 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 may be pleased to receive the Additional Affidavit With Additional Relevant Documents In the WP No 491 Of 2026 and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. MOHAMMAD NAYAB RASOOL Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES RC,J W.P.No.491 of 2026 3 ORDER This Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of respondent nos. 3 and 4 in issuing the online proceedings whereby and whereunder the ration card of the petitioner vide WAP073601100173 and Rice Card bearing No.2812892343 attached to shop No.0736012 of Enamadala Village, Prathipadu Mandal, Guntur District, were deleted. 2. Heard Sri Md.Nayab Rasool, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri Vineeth Appasani, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies. 3. Sri Md.Nayab Rasool, learned counsel for the petitioner, while reiterating the contents of the writ affidavit would contend that without issuing any prior notice and without assigning any reasons, the ration card and rice card of the petitioner were deleted vide online proceedings, which ultimately would result in stoppage of essential commodities to the petitioner and as there is clear violation of the principles of natural justice, the impugned online proceedings are liable to be set aside. Accordingly, prayed to allow the writ petition. 4. Sri Vineeth Appasani, learned Assistant Government Pleader, fairly conceded that the authorities cannot delete the ration card and rice card of the petitioner without issuing any prior notice and prayed to pass appropriate orders. RC,J W.P.No.491 of 2026 4 5. Perused the material available on record and considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 6. The Hon’ble Supreme Court finding fault with en masse cancellation of ration cards by Telangana Government, observed that getting basic nutrition through the public distribution system (PDS) is a statutory right. Statutory rights conferred by the Constitution cannot be extinguished without following the principles of natural justice. Procedural fairness requires that affected parties receive notice, disclosure of evidence, and a reasonable opportunity to be heard before rights are curtailed. Supplies under a ration card generally cannot be stopped without issuing a notice and providing a fair hearing to the cardholder, adhering to principles of natural justice and statutory regulations. It is fairly settled that even if a statute is silent on a hearing, natural justice often must be implied to ensure fairness, especially when rights are impacted by administrative actions. 7. Admittedly, no notice has been issued to the petitioner before passing the impugned online proceedings whereby and whereunder the petitioner’s ration card and rice card were deleted. Therefore, the impugned online proceedings deleting the ration card and rice card of the petitioner is liable to be set aside, even without inviting counter from the authorities, since whatever explanation or justification provided by the respondent cannot validate the action that is inherently void from its inception. RC,J W.P.No.491 of 2026 5 8. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of, the ration card and rice card deleted through the impugned online proceedings shall stand restored forthwith. If at all the authorities want to proceed, they shall follow the due procedure contemplated under law by observing the principles of natural justice. There shall be no order as to costs. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI 20th April, 2026. RR