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Judgment
Heard Sri K. Venumadhav, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies, appearing on behalf of Respondent Nos.1, 3 and 4 and Sri K. Devendar, learned Standing Counsel, appearing on behalf of Respondent Nos.2 and 5.
The petitioner approached this Court seeking the prayer as under:
"...to issue an Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ declaring the action of the respondent No.4 authority in conducting a panchanama dated 22.07.2026, through which seizing the entire stock of paddy which is available in the rice mill of the petitioner and not permitting to mill and deliver the rice to be delivered and proposing to shift the stock of the paddy available in petitioner rice mill, is nothing but arbitrary, illegal, null and void and violative of principles of natural justice and also violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India. Consequently, direct the respondent authorities to permit the petitioner to mill the paddy and deliver the balance rice to be delivered by the petitioner rice mill, and to pass such other order..."
The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that the petitioner is a partner of M/s. Guru Raghavendra Industries, Ugrawai Village. The petitioner had established the rice mill in 2016 and has been participating in the Custom Milling Rice Scheme since the 2016-17 marketing season without any adverse remarks. During the Rabi Marketing Season 2022-23, although the allotted paddy was found to be largely damaged and milling was initially deferred, the petitioner was directed to mill the stock, resulting in delivery of 88,555.22 quintals of rice out of the required 93,389.49 quintals of rice, leaving a balance attributable to 4,834.27 quintals of rice (7,215.32 quintals of paddy). Subsequently, G.O. Ms. No.7 dated 08.05.2026 fixed the value of the remaining paddy at enhanced rates without accounting for storage and allied charges. Thereafter, on 22.07.2026, respondent officials, accompanied by the Additional Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Enforcement, inspected the mill, threatening the petitioner with coercive action, and have collected payment of Rs.20,00,000/- on 06.07.2026 and Rs.1,61,39,300/- on 23.07.2026. A panchanama dated 22.07.2026 was prepared alleging shortage of 31,440 quintals despite the petitioner's assertion that the stock remained available and milling for Kharif 2025-26 and Rabi 2025-26 was continuing within the extended period up to 31.10.2026. Aggrieved by the seizure of stock, obstruction of milling operations, and proposed shifting of paddy, the petitioner had approached this Court by filing the present Writ Petition seeking quashing of the panchanama dated 22.07.2026 and consequential permission to complete milling and deliver the balance rice.
PERUSED THE RECORD:
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:
Without going into the merits in the present writ petition, the limited relief as sought for by the petitioner is a direction to the 2nd and 3rd respondents to permit the petitioner to mill and deliver the paddy available at the petitioner's rice mill i.e., 81,138.61 Quintals pertaining to the Kharif 2025-26, out of the total quality of Quintals of paddy allotted to the petitioner rice mill i.e., 1,55,480.80 quintals under the supervision of the Officer to be deputed by the 2nd and 3rd Respondent.
Learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the official respondents 1, 3 and 4 and the learned standing counsel appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 and 5 do not dispute the said submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner.
Upon consent of all the learned counsel on record, and without going into the merits of the rival contentions put forth by the learned counsel on record, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing the 2nd and 3rd respondents to permit the petitioner to mill the available paddy at the petitioner's rice mill i.e., 81,138.61 Quintals pertaining to the Kharif 2025-26, out of the total quantity of Quintals of paddy allotted to the petitioner rice mill i.e., 1,55,480.80 quintals, and supply the same to the 2nd and 3rd respondents herein, under the supervision of the officer to be deputed by 2nd and 3rd respondents, within a reasonable period.
With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed.