NOB- Andhra Pradesh news: The High Court has clarified that ration shop dealerships cannot be cancelled unilaterally. It has warned that dealers are facing adverse effects due to the cancellation of dealerships. It has suggested that a decision on cancellation should be taken only after conducting a proper investigation if allegations are made. It has said that the same kind of investigation should be done if allegations are made against a government employee, an investigation should also be conducted in the case of allegations against dealerships. It has said that the arguments of the dealers should be heard and the statements of witnesses, if any, should be recorded along with the dealer. If cardholders or others complain, an investigation should be conducted in the presence of the dealer. Those persons should also be given an opportunity to be cross-examined. Reasons should be stated before taking action. It objected to the RDO issuing orders cancelling the dealership based on the report given by the Tahsildar without conducting an investigation. It has faulted that the report prepared by the Tahsildar was not provided to the dealer. The RDO orders were declared to be invalid as they were against the principles of natural justice. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Justice Chimalapati Ravi ruled to this effect. The Madanapalle RDO had cancelled the dealership of a discount store owned by M Aruna in Madanapalle, Chittoor district, on February 18, 2009. The Joint Collector had upheld this order on February 20, 2009 and the District Collector had issued orders on February 10, 2013. In the same year, Aruna challenged them in the High Court, but the single judge dismissed them and delivered a judgment on July 16, 2024. The two-judge bench allowed the appeal petition filed by her challenging this judgment and passed the following judgment.