Heard both sides.

2. By consent of both sides, the main Writ Petition itself is taken up for final disposal.

3. No counter is filed on behalf of the Respondents 1 and 2.

4. According to the Petitioner, he is the owner of the lorry bearing Registration No. No.KA-12-A-2316 and that the Second Respondent/The Inspector of Police, Civil Supplies Department, Dindigul had seized his vehicle on the allegation that the vehicle in question was used to transport 187 bags of PDS Rice (each containing 50 Kgms of rice). After seizure of the vehicle, the Second Respondent registered a case against the Petitioner and nine others, in Crime No.146 of 2016, for the offence alleged under Clause 6(4) of TNSC (RDCS) Order, 1982 r/w 7(i)(a)(ii) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and produced the vehicle before the First Respondent. In this connection, the Petitioner had sent a detailed representation to the First Respondent on 5.7.2016(after seizure of the vehicle) seeking for release of the vehicle in question. However, the vehicle has not been released till date.

5. The grievance of the Petitioner is that if the vehicle is exposed to hot sun and rain and also when it is kept in open yard, it wil