- (1.) M. Katju, J. By means of this writ petition the petitioner has challenged the enhancement of licence fee for slaughter cattle.
(2.) THE members of the petitioner association are engaged in the selling of Bara Goshta (Beef) after taking licence from Nagar Nigam, Allahabad. By an advertisement published in the newspaper on 22-8- 1998 it was proposed to enhance the licence fee from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 300/- and slaughter fees from Rs. 8/- to Rs. 25/- vide Annexure 1 to the writ petition. THE petitioner filed objection vide Annexure 2 to the writ petition. However, the licence fee was enhanced vide U. P. Gazette dated 13-1- 1999 Annexure 5 to the writ petition. It is submitted that the enhancement is arbitrary and unreasonable. A counter-affidavit has been filed and we have perused the same. In paragraph 4 it is stated that the State of U. P. by G. O. dated 2-10-1994 directed the local bodies and Municipal Corporations of U. P. to increase the licence fee as these fees had not been revised since the last 35 years vide Annexure C. A. 1. In paragraph 5 it is stated that the various amenities have been provided for the slaughter houses e. g. water supply, drainage system etc. apart from security arrangements. In our opinion the ground taken for enhancement of the licence fee are reasonable grounds and the enhancement cannot be said to be arbitrary or unreasonable. The petition is therefore dismissed. Interim order if any is vacated. Petition dismissed. .;