K R SURAJ Vs. EXCISE INSPECTOR PARAPPANAQADI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave to appeal is granted in all the special leave petitions.

(2.) These appeals arise from judgments and orders of the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam in Cri. M. C. Nos. 2409/97, 431, 435, 444 and 448/98, 502, 503, 504 and 506/97,4000,2158,2159/97, 791/98 and 788/98, passed on May 19, 1998.

(3.) The common question that arises for consideration in these appeals, is: whether the impugned proceedings initiated against the appellants on the basis of samples collected from their shops under Section 31 of the Kerala Abkari Act, 1077 (before its amendment in 1997) are liable to be quashed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure.