High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeWrit petitions dismissed as infructuous; possib...
WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases
Case / Petition Number:WP(C).Nos.14612/2017; 14278/2017; 14361/2017; 14377/2017; 14412/2017; 14439/2017; 14481/2017; 14653/2017; 14733/2017; 14906/2017; 14930/2017; 15969/2017
Neutral Citation:/null
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- N. Nagareesh
- Judgment Date
- 2019-01-29
- Court Decision / Holding
- The writ petitions are infructuous and are dismissed as such. If petitioners have any surviving grievance, they may approach the appropriate authorities.
- Final Disposition
- Writ petitions dismissed as infructuous; possible remedy remains with authorities for any residual grievances.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- Joy Malayil Stephen
- E.P. Sabu
- C.M. Mohanan
- V.G. Joshi
- VMGR Hotels & Resorts (P) Ltd
- Hotel White City North Paravoor
- M.V. Suresh
- Jomon Joseph
- Palakkunnel Tourist Home Ettumanoor
- M. Sugunan
- C. Damodharan
- M/S. Keerthi Koothattukulam
- Hotel Travellers Inn, Perumbavoor
- T.P. Vasudevan
Respondents
- State of Kerala
- The Excise Commissioner, Kerala
- The Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Kerala
- Koothattukulam Municipality
- North Paravur Municipality
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • M. G. Karthikeyan
- • G. Sudheer (Thuravoor)
- • Benny Antony Parell
- • K. Anand
- • Saiiby Jo Kidangoor
- • Naveen T
- • Thomas J. Annakkallunkal
Counsels for Respondents
- • Jayasurya B.
Case Synopsis & Summary
This batch of writ petitions is filed by holders of foreign liquor vending licences challenging renewal of their licences under the Kerala Abkari regime, following the Supreme Court’s decision in State of Tamil Nadu and others v. K.Balu which restricted vending of foreign liquor within 500 metres of National Highways. The Kerala High Court, presided over by Justice N. Nagareesh, took up WP(C). Nos. 14612/2017 and connected matters along with several related petitions. On admission, the court issued interim directions directing renewal considerations so long as there were no legal impediments, applying the legal proposition laid down by the apex court. The State’s Government Pleader submitted that renewal applications were processed and renewals granted wherever no impediment existed, particularly for the Abkari Year 2017-2018. Consequently, many petitions have become infructuous since the renewal process has progressed in line with interim orders and statutory requirements. The court observed that these petitions essentially concern renewal issues, and since renewals have been awarded, there is no ongoing live cause in most cases. The petitions are therefore dismissed as infructuous, with a rider that petitioners may pursue any surviving grievance before the appropriate authorities. The decision consolidates multiple petitions across several licence-holders, municipalities, and years, reaffirming adherence to Supreme Court guidance while closing the litigation as of the date of judgment.
Provisions of Law Cited
Abkari Act (Kerala Abkari Act)
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioners challenge the renewal of foreign liquor vending licences, contending there is no impediment in law to renewals per the interim orders and in light of the Supreme Court guidance in the Tamil Nadu v. K. Balu decision. They rely on the ad interim practice of preserving status quo and continuing license rights where possible for the Abkari Year 2017-2018, asserting a legitimate expectation that licences would be renewed in the absence of legal bar.
Contentions of Respondents
The Government Pleader submits that renewals were considered in accordance with the Supreme Court guidance, and wherever there were no legal impediments, renewals were granted for the Abkari Year 2017-2018. The authorities acted under interim directions and statutory rules, resulting in the licences being renewed in several cases; hence the petitions have become infructuous.
Cited Precedents (1)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tamil Nadu and others v. K.Balu and another | 2017 (1) KHC 26 (SC) | Positive | Cited as the apex court decision that informs the Court’s approach to the 500-metre restriction on vending of foreign liquor and is explicitly cited as the guiding proposition governing interim renewal considerations. |
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Extracted Judgment Text
Exact text extracted from official judgment records.
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
## **TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
## **WP(C).No.14612 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**BAIJU.K. AGED 49, S/O.KARUNAKARAN, M/S.HOTEL AMBALAKKARA REGENCY, PULAMON JUNCTION, KOTTARAKARA, KOLLAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.PRAVEEN K. JOY**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
|**1**|**STATE OF KERALA**|
|---|---|
||**REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,**|
||**PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,**|
||**GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.**|
|**2**|**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER**|
||**EXCISE HEAD QUARTERS,NANDAVANAM,**|
||**VIKASBHAVAN P.O.,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,**|
||**KERALA - 695 033.**|
|**3**|**THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE**|
||**KOLLAM -691 001.**|
||**SENIOR GOVT. PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA.B**|
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14278/2017 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**2**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
## **WP(C).No.14278 of 2017**
## **PETITIONERS:**
**1 JOY MALAYIL STEPHEN AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.ESTHAPPAN, MALAYIL HOUSE, NEEZHOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 2 E.P.SABU S/O.PARAMESWARAN, ERUCHIRACKAL HOUSE, NEEZHOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 3 C.M.MOHANAN S/O.MADHAVAN, CHERIYAMKUNNEL HOUSE, NEEZHOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 4 V.G.JOSHI S/O.GOPALAN, VELIYAMPARAMBIL HOUSE, MANJOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, TAXES (A) DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001.**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**3**
- **2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695033.**
- **3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE KOTTAYAM-686001. BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**4**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
## **WP(C).No.14361 of 2017**
**PETITIONER:**
**HOTEL WHITE CITY NORTH PARAVOOR, REPRESENTED BY ITS LICENSEE, P.R ABHILASH.**
**BY ADV. SRI.G.SUDHEER (THURAVOOR)**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
|**1**|**STATE OF KERALA**|
|---|---|
||**REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,**|
||**TAXES DEPARTMENT,**|
||**GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.**|
|**2**|**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER**|
||**KERALA.**|
|**3**|**THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE**|
||**ERNAKULAM.**|
## **BY SR. GOVT. PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**5**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No.14377 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**VMGR HOTELS & RESORTS (P) LIMITED REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR, BINOY JOSEPH, BYE PASS ROAD, VALLANGHY, NEMMARA,PALAKKAD.**
**BY ADVS. SRI.BENNY ANTONY PAREL SRI.K.ANAND SRI.SAIBY JOSE KIDANGOOR**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, TAXES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 695001.**
**2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,KERALA. 695001.**
**3 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE PALAKKAD. 678001.**
## **BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**6**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No.14412 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**M.V. SURESH AGED 49 YEARS, S/O.VELAYUDHAN, MAMBATTIL HOUSE, KURICHI P.O., CHANGANACHERRY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT**
**BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, TAXES (A) DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001 2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695033 3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE KOTTAYAM-686001 BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**7**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No.14439 of 2017**
**PETITIONER:**
**JOMON JOSEPH AGED 35 YEARS, S/O.JOSEPH (LATE), KARAMULLIL HOUSE, EDAKUNNAM P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.**
**BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, TAXES (A) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. 2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695 033. 3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE KOTTAYAM-686 001.**
## **BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**8**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No. 14481 of 2017**
**PETITIONER:**
**M/S. PALAKUNNEL TOURIST HOME ETTUMANOOR, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER, SRI SUNOJ KURIAN, AGED 34 YEARS, S/O. P.J KURIAN**
**BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
|**1**|**STATE OF KERALA**|
|---|---|
||**REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY**|
||**TAXES(A) DEPARTMENT,**|
||**GOVT. SECRETARIAT,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001**|
|**2**|**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER**|
||**COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 033**|
|**3**|**THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE**|
||**KOTTAYAM 686 001**|
||**BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**|
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**9**
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No.14653 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**M/S.HOTEL KEERTHI KOOTHATTUKULAM, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER, MITHUN DAVIS,AGED 38 YEARS, S/O. E.J.DAVIS.EDASSERRY**
**BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
|**1**|**STATE OF KERALA**|
|---|---|
||**REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY,**|
||**TAXES(A) DEPARTMENT,**|
||**GOVT. SECRETARIAT,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM PIN-695001**|
|**2**|**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER**|
||**COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM PIN-695033**|
|**3**|**THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE**|
||**ERNAKULAM**|
|**4**|**THE KOOTHATTUKULAM MUNICIPALITY**|
||**KOOTHATTUKULAM,ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,**|
||**REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY PIN-686662**|
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**10**
## **BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**11**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
## **WP(C).No.14733 of 2017**
## **PETITIONERS:**
**1 M.SUGUNAN AGED 48 YEARS, S/O. VELU, MELEPARMBATH HOUSE, KOLATHOOR P.O.,MOORKKANADU VILLAGE, PERINTHALMANNA TALUK,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 2 C.DAMODHARAN S/O. AYYAPPAN,CHOLAKKUZHY HOUSE, MOORKKANADU P.O.,PERINTHALMANNA TALUK, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.G.KARTHIKEYAN**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, TAXES (A) DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. 2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 033. 3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE MALAPPURAM-676 505. BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**12**
# **WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No.14906 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (MANUFACTURING & MARKETING) CORPORATION LIMITED BEVCO TOWER, VIKAS BHAVAN P.O., PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURM-33, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGIONAL MANAGER, CENTRAL ZONE-II, ERNAKULAM, SRI. K.N. RAJATH.**
**BY ADV. SRI.NAVEEN.T**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
|**1**|**STATE OF KERALA**|
|---|---|
||**REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,**|
||**LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,**|
||**GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.**|
|**2**|**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER**|
||**COMMISSIONERATE OF EXCISE,**|
||**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.**|
|**3**|**NORTH PARAVUR MUNICIPALITY**|
||**NORTH PARAVUR, ERNAKULAM DIST-683 513,**|
||**REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.**|
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**13**
**4 THE SECRETARY NORTH PARAVUR MUNICIPALITY, OFFICE OF THE NORTH PARAVUR MUNICIPALITY, NORTH PARAVUR-ERNAKULAM-683 513.**
**BY ADV. SRI.C.S.AJITH PRAKASH BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**14**
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
## **WP(C).No.14930 of 2017**
## **PETITIONER:**
**HOTEL TRAVELLERS INN, PERUMBAVOOR REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER MATHEW GEORGE AGED 54, S/O. N.V VARKEY, NIRAPPEL HOUSE, THODUPUZHA EAST P.O, IDUKKI DISTRICT**
**BY ADV. SRI.THOMAS J.ANAKKALLUNKAL**
## **RESPONDENTS:**
**1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, TAXES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001 2 THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001 3 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE ERNAKULAM 682 018 BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**15**
# **WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
**PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH**
**TUESDAY ,THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 9TH MAGHA, 1940**
**WP(C).No. 15969 of 2017**
**PETITIONER:**
**T.P.VASUDEVAN AGED 46 YEARS S/O.T.P.NARAYANAN, MANAGING PARTNER, HOTEL SKY PEARL, CHOVVA, KANNUR, PIN-670010**
**BY ADV. SRI.K.ANAND**
**RESPONDENT:**
**THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001.**
**BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JAYASURYA B.**
**THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29.01.2019, ALONG WITH WP(C).14612/2017AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**16**
## **J U D G M E N T**
[ WP(C) Nos.14612, 14278, 14361, 14377, 14412, 14439, 14481, 14653, 14733, 14906, 14930 & 15969 of 2017 ]
The writ petitioners, who are foreign liquor vending licence holders, have filed these writ petitions when the Apex Court delivered judgment in _**State of Tamil Nadu and others v. K.Balu and another** [2017 (1) KHC 26 (SC)],_ prohibiting vending of foreign liquor within 500 metres of National Highways.
2. When these writ petitions came up for admission, this Court passed interim orders directing the respondents to consider renewal applications in respect of their licences, if there are no legal impediments standing in the way, especially the proposition of law laid down by the Apex Court in _**State of Tamil Nadu**_ ( _supra)_ .
3. Learned Government Pleader submits that the
**WP(C).No.14612/2017 & Connected Cases**
**17**
renewal applications were considered consequent to the interim orders passed in these cases and wherever the authorities found no legal impediments, renewal was granted. Further, these licences were in respect of the Abkari Year 2017-2018.
In the circumstances, these writ petitions have become infructuous. Accordingly, these writ petitions are dismissed as infructuous. If the petitioners have any surviving grievance, they may take it up before the appropriate authorities.
Sd/- **N. NAGARESH, JUDGE**
aks/29.01.2019