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Medarametla Jeevan Sai v. the State of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh HC31 Mar 2026WP/17307/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition closed without adjudication; alleged police harassment of mineral water suppliers at Manubolu, SPSR Nellore; Article 226 mandamus sought against SHO Manubolu Police Station and Panchayat Secretary Venkannapalem; Food Adulteration Act referred to as applicable special law; Articles 19 and 21 invoked in the prayer; Panchayat Secretary letter dated 10.08.2021; police denial on written instructions; no order as to costs; IA No.1 of 2021 under Section 151 CPC closed as sequel; single-judge bench of Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy; decision date 01.04.2026; no precedents cited.

What did the court decide?

None — the writ petition was closed with no order as to costs; miscellaneous applications, if any, pending therein were directed to stand closed as a sequel. ¶44

Medarametla Jeevan Sai Vs the State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None — the writ petition was closed with no order as to costs; miscellaneous applications, if any, pending therein were directed to stand closed as a sequel.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the action of respondent Nos.2 and 3 in calling the petitioners to the police station and harassing and threatening them under the guise of violation of general law — stated to be inapplicable given the special law, the Food Adulteration Act, under which respondents 2 and 3 purportedly have no power to file any case — is illegal and warrants a direction that they not harass the petitioners or call them to the police station.

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Court's answer

Having heard both sides and placing on record the written instructions submitted by respondent No.2, the Court closed the writ petition without issuing any direction against respondent Nos.2 and 3, with no order as to costs.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction), Writ Petition No.17307 of 2021, decided 01.04.2026 by the Hon'ble Sri Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy (single judge). Two operators of a mineral water business ('Amma Water Suppliers', Venkannapalem village, Manubolu Mandal, SPSR Nellore District) filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a mandamus against the Station House Officer, Manubolu Police Station, and the Panchayat Secretary, Venkannapalem, alleging that they were being harassed, threatened and repeatedly summoned to the police station under colour of general law although, per the petitioners, the special law (Food Adulteration Act) applied and respondents 2 and 3 had no power to file any case, invoking Articles 19 and 21. The learned Assistant Government Pleader, on written instructions, stated that the only communication received by the police was the Panchayat Secretary's letter dated 10.08.2021 regarding maintenance of the plant without Panchayat permission; that no complaint had otherwise been received; that the police were not competent to redress the matter absent specific directions from the competent authority or Court; and that the police had never called, threatened or harassed the petitioners. Placing those written instructions on record, the Court closed the writ petition without issuing any direction, with no order as to costs, and directed that miscellaneous applications, if any, stand closed as a sequel. No precedent was cited and no merits adjudication was made.

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[3327]

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APHC010294422021

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

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WEDNESDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY

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WRIT PETITION NO: 17307/2021

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Between:

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MEDARAMETLA JEEVAN SAI, S/O SOMASEKHAR AGE 3L YEARS, OCC BUSINESS IN MINERAL WATER, R/O VENKANNAPALEM VILLAGE, MANUBOLU MANDAL, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.

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MEDARAMETLA SOMASEKHAR, S/O RAMASUBBAIAH AGE 59, 0CC. CULTIVATION, R/O VENKANNAPALEM VILLAGE, MANUBOLU MANDAL, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.

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...PETITIONER(S)

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AND

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THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, A.P.SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATHI GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

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THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, MANUBOLU POLICE STATION, SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

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THE PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, VENKANNAPALEM PANCHAYAT, MANUBOLU MANDAL,SPSR NELLORE DISTRICT.A.P.

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toto issue a Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of 'Writ of Mandamus' declaring the action of the respondents 2 and 3 in harassing the

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SRK, J W.P.No.17307 of 2021

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petitioners by calling to the police station without any violation of law under the guise of violation of general law which is not applicable when there is special law that is. Food Adulteration Act under which the respondents 2 and have no power to file any case and threatening the petitioners and abusing the 1st petitioner by the 2nd respondent thus violating Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India consequently direct the respondents 2 and 3 not to harass the petitioners and not to call them to the Police Station

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IA NO: 1 OF 2021

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Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents 2 and 3 not to harass the petitioners and to cause any interference in the water manufacture and supply business of the petitioners, pending disposal of the main writ petition

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Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

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1.V R MACHAVARAM

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR HOME

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The Court made the following:

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SRK, J W.P.No.17307 of 2021

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HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY

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WRIT PETITION No.17307 of 2021

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ORDER:

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This Writ Petition has been filed seeking to declare the action of respondent Nos.2 and 3 in harassing and threatening the petitioners by calling to Police Station under the guise of violation of general law, which is not applicable when there is special law that is Food Adulteration Act under which the respondent Nos.2 and 3 have no power to file any case and threatening the petitioners and consequently direct the respondent Nos.2 and 3 not to harass the petitioners and not to call them to Police Station.

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Case of the petitioners is that 1^st petitioner is an unemployee; in order to survive and to eke his livelihood, he established a mineral water plant in the name and style “Amma Water Suppliers” in his village Venkannapalem, Manubolu Mandal, SPSR Nellore District in clean environment with RO technology by obtaining certificate of registration called “AIIMS CERTIFICATION” dated 07.03.2020 valid for a period of 3 years for manufacture and supply of RO purified drinking water by complying with ISO 22000:2005 requirements. There are about

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SRK, J W.P.No.17307 of 2021

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40 mineral water plants in Manubolu mandal, who are all following the same technology. Due to change of political scenario in Andhra Pradesh State, the local political leaders, in the Venkannapalem village, have been threatening the petitioners and causing hurdles in running the business. It is further stated that 2^nd respondent called the petitioners to the police station and made them sit in the police station. 1^st petitioner submitted all the certificates including the certification of “AIIMS CERTIFICATION”, the GST registration and the report of the water analyst, but he is not in a position to look into the documents and is insisting the petitioners to come to police station.

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Heard learned counsel for petitioners and learned counsel for respondents.

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The learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2, on written instructions, submits that on 10.08.2021, 3^rd respondent-Panchayat Secretary endorsed a letter to 2^nd respondent stating that 2^nd petitioner, without obtaining permission from the Panchayat, is maintaining Mineral Water Plant and supplying water to the villages and that, except the said representation, police did not receive any complaint and that, police are not competent authority to redress the said issue,

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SRK, J W.P.No.17307 of 2021

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except when there is specific directions from the competent authority or Court. He further submits that Police never called the petitioners to Police Station or never threatened or harassed the petitioners as alleged.

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