2026:APHC:16400 APHC010127442026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3331]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

WEDNESDAY,THE ELEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 6698/2026 Between:

1. T HE NARSAPURAM PRIMARY MARINE FISHERMAN CO-

OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, REG.NO.169D, NARSAPURAM WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, AP REP BY ITS PRESIDENT SANGANI VENKATESWAR RAO ...PETITIONER AND

1. T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPARTMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI,M AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

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2. T HE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH.534201

3. T HE DISTRICT PANCHAYAT OFFICER, WEST GODAVRI DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH , 534201

4. T HE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, NARSAPURAM, NARSAPURAM MANDAL WEST GODAVRI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, 534275 ...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 writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus, declaring the action of Respondent Nos.2 to

4 in not taking appropriate statutory action and not ensuring strict compliance of the eligibility condition No.6 in the auction notification dt 28-02-2026 in the ensuing auction scheduled to be held on 12.03.2026 for grant of Madhavayipalem Ferry toll rights, particularly in permitting illegal and unauthorized persons who do not possess the mandatory requirements such as licensed boats, insurance and route permits to participate in the auction and escalate the bidding under the guise of the authorities, as highly illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of the principles of natural justice and Article 14 and 19 of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the Respondent Nos.2 to 4 to take appropriate action and prevent such illegal and unauthorized persons from participating in the auction scheduled on 12.03.2026, and to strictly enforce the eligibility conditions prescribed in the auction notification 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 respondents 2 to 4 to ensure that no unauthorized person as per the condition No. 6 of the Auction Notification dt 28-02-2026 shall be participated and shill bid in the auction pending disposal of the above writ petition 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 permit the petitioner to implead as the proposed 5th respondent as party respondent in W.P no.6698 of 2026 in the main Writ petition and in all Interlocutory Applications and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. CHELAMKURI MOUNIKA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV

2. GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following:

:: ORDER ::

Heard Ms. Ch. Mounika Lakshmi, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri P. Rajesh Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, for respondents 1 and 3; Ms. P. Usha, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, for respondent No.2 and Sri Chaitanya, learned counsel representing Sri Y. Koteswara Rao, learned standing counsel for respondent No.4.

2. The above writ petition was filed to declare the action of respondents 2 to 4 in not adhering to condition No.6 of the auction notification, issued on 28.02.2026, scheduling to hold the auction on 12.03.2026 for the grant of Madhavayipalem Ferry Toll Rights, as illegal and arbitrary.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that condition No.6 of the auction notification prescribes that the applicant, who intends to participate in the auction, shall submit a declaration about owning a licensed boat or a lease agre