APHC010155002026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3332]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 8666/2026 Between:

1. G H GEETHA, W/O. G.H.NAGARAJU, AGED 32 YEARS, OCC F.P.SHOP DEALER OF SHOP.NO. 1219011, MEGHAMALA MAHILA,PODHUPU SANGAM, R/O. GALAGALA VILLAGE, GUMMAGATTA MANDAL, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT – 515863.

...PETITIONER AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, AT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT – 522237.

2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT AT ANANTAPUR – 515001.

3. THE JOINT COLLECTOR, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT AT ANANTAPUR –

515001.

4. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, KALYANDURGAM, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT – 515761.

5. THE TAHSILDAR, GUMMAGATTA MANDAL, ANANTAPUR DISTRICT – 515863.

...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 to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 4^th respondent in issuing proceedings D.Dis.No.B4/1271/2025 dated 27.12.2025 by cancelling the authorization of the petitioner as fair price shop dealer of F.P Shop No.1219011, Galagala Village, Gummagatta Mandal, Anantapur District without there being any valid reason, without offering personal hearing to the petitioner illegal, arbitrary and violative of principles of natural justice and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India and also violative of Andhra Pradesh State Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order 2018 and consequently set-aside the same and further direct the respondents to continue the petitioner to hold F.P Shop No.1219011, Galagala Village, Gummagatta Mandal, Anantapur District and 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 to direct the respondents to continue the petitioner as F.P. shop Dealer and to supply essential commodities to the petitioner’s F.P Shop No.1219011, Galagala Village, Gummagatta Mandal, Anantapur District 4^th respondent vide by suspending the proceedings of D.Dis.No.B4/1271/2025 dated

27.12.2025, pending disposal of Writ Petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. K NARSI REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES The Court made the following order:

Assailing the proceedings issued by respondent No.4-Revenue Divisional Officer, Kalyanadurgam in D.Dis No.B4/1271/2025 dated 27.12.2025, whereby the authorization of the petitioner’s Fair Price shop No.1219011 situated at Galagala Village, Gummagatta Mandal, Anantapur District was cancelled without any valid reason and without affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner, the present Writ Petition is filed.

2. Heard Sri K.Narsi Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vineeth Appasani, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for the respondents.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, in elaboration to what has been stated in the affidavit, contended that the petitioner was appointed as a temporary Fair Price Shop dealer for the subject shop and ever since the date of appointment, he has been running the shop without any complaints from the cardholders. While so, the Revenue Divisional Officer, who is the primary/appointing authority, issued a show cause notice framing two charges alleging that the petitioner failed to make available the scheduled commodities physically as per the balances shown in the e-PoS generated printouts for the purpose of cross checking stock variations and that there was excess fortified rice, showing an intention to divert the same into black market and that he had indulged in clandestine business. Ac