( 1 ) THIS writ petition is filed questioning the order of the first respondent dated 17-5-1997 confirming the order of the second respondent as well as the third respondent dated 22-3-1997 and 16-11-1995 respectively. The petitioner prays for a Writ of mandamus declaring the orders of the first and second respondents as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the essential Commodities Act, 1955 (for short the Act ) and the A. P. Scheduled commodities (Regulation of Distribution by card System) Order, 1973 (for brevity the control Order ).

( 2 ) THE fact of the matter is not in dispute. The petitioner was appointed as permanent fair price shop dealer of Nemakal village in the year 1987. The villagers made certain allegations against the petitioner. The local m. L. A. forwarded the representation of the villagers to the Revenue Divisional Officer who is competent authority to appoint a fair price shop dealer. The villagers appear to have alleged that the petitioner is charging higher rates for sugar and kerosene, that he issued less quantity of rice depriving the eligibility of the cardholders and that he made false entries in the record though he did