VALIREDDY SATHYAVATHI Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the following relief/s:-

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for the respondents.

(3.) The case of the petitioner is that she was appointed as a permanent fair price shop dealer of shop No.4 of Madhupala Village vide proceedings in Rc No.261/08/B, dated 18.08.2008 by the 5th respondent. She used to distribute the essential commodities to the card holders by using the electronic devices i.e., 'e-pos' and 'e-weighing scale' to nearly 693 card holders without any complaint. The Mandal Civil Supplies Officer (MCSO), Gajapathinagaram stated that, the dealer has supplied Bengal gram whole instead of red gram dal during the month of May, 2020 and also collected Rs.10/- from each cardholder and that the dealer is supplying Bengal gram whole with the aid of plastic tin instead of measuring through weighing scale and that the rice is being measured with gunny bag due to which the card holders are getting less quantities. The dealer has also admitted the irregularities in the distribution of stocks. The District Collector (Civil Supplies) passed the impugned suspension order basing on the report of the 6th respondent without calling for any explanation from the petitioner, without giving any opportunity of hearing and without recording any reasons in writing as required under clause 8(4) of the Andhra Pradesh State Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2018. Aggrieved by the said order the present Writ Petition came to be filed.