Suspension of a fair price shop dealer's authorization pending enquiry can be legally executed without a prior show-cause notice to protect the interests of cardholders, as per the applicable Control Order and administrative guidelines.

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 4th Respondent i.e., the Revenue Divisional Officer, Cheepurupalli, in issuing proceedings in Roc. No. 111/2026/CS, dated 13-04-2026, suspending the dealership of Fair Price Shop No. 0222009, and appointing the 7th Respondent as temporary In-charge of Fair Price Shop No. 0222009, Chukkavalasa Village, Garividi Mandal, Vizianagaram District, without deciding the case there being any valid reason to the petitioner as 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, violation of orders of the Honourable High Court in WA 139 of 2025 dt.18.03.2025 and direct the 4th Respondent to lift the suspension order against the Petitioner, remove the 7th Respondent as temporary In-charge, and restore the Petitioner as the Fair Price Shop Dealer with authorization to supply essential commodities to Fair Price Shop No. 0222009, Chukkavalasa Village, Garividi Mandal, Vizianagaram District, by setting aside the impugned proceedings in Roc. No. 111/2026/CS, dated 13-04-2026 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 to direct the 4th Respondent to lift the suspension order against the Petitioner, remove the 7th Respondent as temporary In-charge, and restore the Petitioner as the Fair Price Shop Dealer with authorization to supply essential commodities to Fair Price Shop No. 0222009, Chukkavalasa Village, Garividi Mandal, Vizianagaram District, by setting aside the impugned proceedings in Roc. No. 111/2026/CS, dated 13-04-2026; and to pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. VADLAPUDI BHAVANI NAGA KRISHNA

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR REVENUE

2. GP FOR CIVIL SUPPLIES

The Court made the following:

ORDER:

The case of the petitioner is that she has been appointed as a dealer of fair price shop No.0222009 of Chukkavalasa Village, Garividi Mandal, Vizianagaram District and discharging her duties as dealer and supplying the commodities to the cardholders to the utmost satisfaction of the officials and the cardholders. While so, the 5th respondent, without conducting any enquiry on the vague allegations that physical stock was not maintained properly in accordance with e-poss machine records, without furnishing any list of alleged irregularities seeking explanation and without recording the statements of the cardholders and without giving any opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses, unilaterally recommended disciplinary action to the 4th respondent and further recommended the 7th respondent for temporary allocation to the subject fair price shop. The said action is under political pressure wherein suspension of the petitioner’s authorization is without show cause notice, without affording personal hearing or enquiry. Hence, the present writ petition is filed.

Heard Sri Vadlapudi Bhavani Naga Krishna, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vineeth Appasani, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies.

Learned counsel for the petitioner while reiterating the contents of the affidavit submitted that before passing the orders impugned no show cause notice has been issued to the petitioner inviting explanation nor provided an opportunity of being heard. He further submitted that the authorities did not even cross-examine the witnesses. The orders impugned is passed contrary to the judgement passed by this Court in W.A.No.139 of 2025, as such, the same is liable to be set aside, accordingly, prayed to allow the writ petition.

On the other hand, le