APHC010009872026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3332]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

MONDAY,THE SECOND DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 2358/2026 Between:

1. B ANNARAVURI NAGAMALLESWARI @ TURLAPATI NAGA MALLESWARI, W/O RAMBABU, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCCUPATION. FAIR PRICE SHOP DEALER (UNDER SUSPENSION), R/O DOOR NO. 8-292/C, KARLAPALEM VILLAGE AND MANDAL, BAPATLA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522111.

...PETITIONER AND

1. T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI - 522238.

2. T HE COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL SUPPLIES, AND EX-

OFFICIO SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI - 522238.

3. T HE DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, BAPATLA DISTRICT, BAPATLA - 522101.

4. T HE JOINT COLLECTOR AND ADDITIONAL DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, BAPATLA DISTRICT, BAPATLA - 522101.

5. T HE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER AND SUBDIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, BAPATLA DIVISION, BAPATLA - 522101.

6. T HE DISTRICT CIVIL SUPPLIES OFFICER, BAPATLA DISTRICT, BAPATLA - 522101.

7. T HE TAHSILDAR, KARLAPALEM MANDAL, KARLAPALEM, BAPATLA DISTRICT - 522111.

...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 an appropriate writ order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus declaring action of the suspension proceedings Rc.No.390/2023-D dated 20-09-2023 issued by the 5th Respondent and the endorsement dated 22-11-2025 issued by the 6th Respondent as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional, and consequently set side the same and , reinstate petitoner as the authorized dealer of Fair Price Shop No. 0756010 with continuity of dealership and all consequential benefits, 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 suspend the impugned suspension proceedings Rc.No.390/2023-D dated 20- 09-2023 issued by the 5th Respondent and the endorsement dated 22-11-2025, and direct the respondents to forthwith reinstate the petitioner as the authorized dealer of Fair Price Shop No. 0756010 pending disposal of the writ petition, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. HANUMANTHA RAO BACHINA Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR REVENUE

2. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following ORDER:

Questioning the proceedings vide Rc.No.390/2023-D, dated 20.09.2023, issued by the 5^th respondent, suspending the petitioner’s authorization in respect of Fair Price SHOP No.0756010, Agraharam Bazaar Sivalayam, Karlapalem Village & Mandal, Bapatla District, and the endorsement dated 22.11.2025, issued by the 6^th respondent, the present writ petition is filed.

2. Heard Sri Bachina Hanumantha Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Appasani Vineeth, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, in elaboration to what has been stated in the affidavit, contended that the petitioner was appointed as a permanent Fair Price Shop dealer for the Shop No.0756010 situated Agraharam Bazaar Sivalayam, Karlapalem Village & Mandal, Bapatla District, and has been discharging duties without any complaint from any corner. He further submitted that officials, upon conducting inspection on 07.09.2023 and alleged to have found variations in the stock, a case under Section 6A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was registered. The 5^th respondent-Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) issued a show-cause notice dated 20.09.2023 inviting explanation from the petitioner as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against her and on the very same day the authority had passed impugned proceedings, suspendi