Kura Kishan v. The State Of Andhra Pradesh,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION Nos.15240, 15254 and 15266 of 2014 COMMON ORDER:

The petitioners in these three cases are Stamp Vendors. They filed these writ petitions aggrieved by the independent proceedings dated 07.05.2014 issued by the District Registrar of Assurances, Collectorate Complex, Karimnagar, suspending their stamp vendor licences for the irregularities allegedly committed by them.

By separate orders dated 04.06.2014 passed in each of these cases, the common High Court at Hyderabad for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh granted interim suspension of the impugned proceedings dated 07.05.2014 passed against each of the petitioners. Though the respondent authorities filed vacate stay petitions in relation to these interim orders, it may be noted that the licences issued to the petitioners, which were suspended under the impugned proceedings dated 07.05.2014, were valid for a limited period. In the case of the petitioner in W.P.No.15240 of 2014, his licence dated 22.12.2012 was valid up to 31.12.2014. Similarly, the licence dated 16.02.2012 of the petitioner in W.P.No.15254 of 2014 was valid up to 31.12.2014. The licence of the petitioner in W.P.No.

15266 of 2014 which was originally granted in the year 1992 seems to have been renewed thereafter from time to time and as per the renewal licence dated 31.12.2012, it was to expire on 31.12.2015. As the suspension of the licences related to the licences which were extant as on that date and as the validity of such licences expired by efflux of time, the writ petitions do not survive for consideration on merits.

Sri M.Ram Mohan Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners in these cases, would further inform this Court that the licences of the

petitioners were independently renewed thereafter by the authorities. He would place before the Court the Stamp Vendor Renewal Licence dated 30.12.2017 issued to the petitioner in W.P.No.15240 of 2014 which is valid till 31.12.2020. Similarly, the petitioner in W.P.No.15254 of 2014 was issued Stamp Vendor Renewal Licence dated 30.12.2017 which is valid till 31.12.2020 and the petitioner in W.P.No.15266 of 2014 was issued Stamp Vendor Renewal Licence dated 31.12.2018 which is valid till 31.12.2021. Be it noted that except for granting interim suspension of the impugned proceedings dated 07.05.2014, this Court did not issue any direction to the authorities to renew the licences of the petitioners if they expired by efflux of time.

Therefore, the action of the authorities in doing so independently has nothing to do with the pendency of these writ petitions or the interim suspension orders granted therein. As already pointed out supra, the impugned suspension of the petitioners' licences related to the licences which were valid as on that date but as the said licences expired by efflux of time, the impugned suspension proceedings relating thereto would no longer operate. The writ petitions are therefore rendered infructuous by these developments and are accordingly dismissed as such. This order shall however not preclude the authorities from taking independent action in relation to the petitioners' existing licences, if warranted, in accordance with the due procedure.

Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall also stand dismissed. No order as to costs.

____________________ JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR Date:11.02.2019 PGS