ORDER

Heard Sri B.Sathish, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 4 and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing on behalf of the respondent No.5.

2. The petitioner approached the Court seeking prayer as under:

“…to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the respondent No. 4th and 5th seizing the rice of 357.80 Quintals (as per FIR 358.15 Quintals) of the Petitioners basing on the Crime No.45/2026 dated 13-03-2026 is illegal, improper and without any power or authority under law and violation of Articles, 19(1)(g) and 300A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to release the stock of 357.80 Quintals (as per FIR 358.15 Quintals) by the respondents No.4 and 5 and pass…”

3. The case of the petitioner in brief as per the averments made in the affidavit filed by the petitioner in support of the present Writ Petition is as under:-

3.1 The petitioner is a licensed rice trader carrying on business in purchase and sale of rice. The petitioner purchased rice through auction conducted by FCI, Raichur, Karnataka and out of the said stock, the petitioner sold 357.80 quintals of rice to M/s Rishabh Rice Mill, Chhattisgarh, for valid consideration.

3.2 While transporting the said rice through a lorry bearing No. TG 07 U 5369 to the purchaser, the vehicle was intercepted by Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 at Kuknoorpally on 13.03.2026. Despite production of valid documents, the authorities falsely alleged that the rice was PDS rice and seized the vehicle and stock, registering Crime No. 45 of 2026 under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

PERUSED THE RECORD:

A) The relevant portion of the order of this Court dated 16.04.2026 passed in W.P.No.11568 of 2026 is extracted hereunder:

“The writ petition is disposed of in terms of the orders of this Court dated 10.03.2026 passed in W.P.No.7254 of 2026 directing the respondents to release the stock of rice seized by the authorities, subject to the condition of the petitioner furnishing immovable property security in the State of Telangana equivalent to the value of the seized stock of rice to Respondent No.2. The release of the stock of rice shall however 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. There shall be no order as to costs.”

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the issue involved in the present writ petition is squarely covered by the order of this Court dated 16.04.2026 passed in W.P.No.11568 of 2026, and hence, the petitioner in the present writ petition is also entitled for the same relief as extended to the petitioner in W.P.No.11568 of 2026.

5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies, appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.1 to 4, and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, appearing on behalf of respondent No.5, do not dispute the said submission made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner.

6. TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION:

a) The aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case,

b) The submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 4 and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing on behalf of the respondent No.5,

c) The orders of this Court dated 16.04.2026 passed in W.P.No.11568 of 2026 (referred to and extracted above),

d) The fact as borne on record that the relief as sought for by the petitioner in the present writ petition had