- (1.) Heard Sri Mukesh Prasad, Advocate on behalf of the petitioner and Standing Counsel on before of the State respondents.
(2.) Petitioner before this Court, in response to the advertisement published by the Collector, Meerut, made an application for grant of a licence for retail sale of country liquor in respect of the locality of Siwaal Khas, district-Meerut in accordance with the provisions of U.P. Excise (Settlement of Licenses for Retail Sale of Country Liquor) Rules, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules, 2002). The application of the petitioner was processed and after draw of lots in accordance with Rule 10(b) the petitioner was selected for grant of licence for retail sale of country liquor in respect of the said locality.
(3.) However, in between large number of writ petitions were filed before this Court, leading writ petition being Writ Petition No. 5050 of 2002 wherein initially an interim order was passed restraining the settlement of licences under the Rules of 2002. However, the interim order was modified on 20.04.2002 permitting the settlement of the shop on daily wage basis only either with the previous licensee or with the newly selected candidate. This arrangement under the order of the High Court remained in operation till 07.07.2002 when the writ petitions were finally decided and dismissed. Thereafter petitioner was granted temporary licence, which was extended up to 21.07.2002.;