WRIT PETITION No.33737 of 2025

ORDER

The Writ Petition is filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring seizure of stock of 238.40 quintals of rice from the petitioner under cover of panchanama dated 16.10.2025 as arbitrary and illegal.

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing for respondents No.1 to 3 and perused the entire material on record.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the subject rice is not PDS rice and under a misconception that it is PDS rice, the same has been seized by the authorities. It is submitted that the petitioner is dealing with business of purchase, sale and milling of paddy, rice and broken rice and as a part of the same, he purchased the said rice from Sambashiva Mini Modern Rice Mill. He further submitted that the said rice is not PDS rice but it is rejected by the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation on 07.10.2025 on the ground that it exceeds the limit of specification in respect of exceeding of discoloured grains and advised to reoffer the stock on improvement.

4. Having regard to the fact that the rice which was seized by the authorities and the proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 have already been initiated against the petitioner and the said proceedings are likely to get damaged because of such time lapse, this Court is inclined to grant interim custody of the rice which was seized by the authorities on terms. The respondents are directed to release the seized stock of 238.40 quintals of rice which was seized by the authorities subject to the condition of the petitioner furnishing immovable property security equivalent to the value of the stock of rice, to respondent No.2. The release of stock of rice shall be subject to the outcome of the confiscation proceedings under Section 6-A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which have been initiated against the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs.

5. Miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed.

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WRIT PETITION No.33737 of 2025