FLORENCE MANASSEH Vs. A S BAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner carries on business, as the proprietress of F. Manasseh and Company, in iron, steel, steel cuttings, scraps and defectives etc. Since 1953 until termination, she was a "controlled stock-holder" as well as a "controlled source", within the meaning of the Iron and Steel (Control) Order.

(2.) IN the year 1957, the petitioner was prosecuted under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, for alleged violation of certain provisions of the Iron and Steel (Control) Order, 1956. The prosecution, however, ended on January 31, 1959, in the acquittal of the petitioner. During the pendency of the prosecution, the respondent Iron and Steel Controller, called upon the petitioner to submit to him explanation in respect of the identical charges. He also suspended further supplies of iron and steel to the petitioner, until the disposal of the criminal case or until satisfactory explanation was given.

(3.) THE petitioner alleges that she gave explanation to the charges but in-spite of that the order suspending supplies to her was not lifted. After her acquittal in the criminal case, the petitioner wrote repeated letters to the respondent Controller requesting him to withdraw the order suspending supplies to her. Excepting that she received routine replies thereto to the effect that the matter was "receiving attention" or that the "decision would be conveyed shortly", nothing further happened.