SHRIDHAR Vs. EXCISE INSPECTOR DHARWAD RANGE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) W. P. Nos. 23550 to 23554, 25265 to 25272, 28992 to 29016 and 26975 to 26997 of 2001. Since the constitutional validity of amended Sections 15-A and 32 to the Karnataka Excise Act is challenged in all these writ petitions and since the same questions of law are involved, all these writ petitions are disposed of by this common order.

(2.) ALL the petitioners are hoteliers running non-vegetarian hotels and restaurants. The petitioners in W. P. Nos. 28992 to 29016 are the hoteliers running non-vegetarian hotels and restaurants at Belgaum city. The petitioners in W. P. Nos. 25265 to 25272 are running their restaurants at Gadag Town, so is petitioners in W. P. Nos. 23550 to 23554 at dharwad and petitioners in W. P. Nos. 26975 to 26997 at Gadag Town.

(3.) THEY all contend in their writ petitions that they have no licence to vend liquor at their restaurants though most of them have applied for grant of excise licences in this regard. Customers who visit their hotels purchase liquors from the licensed shops and consume the same in their hotels while taking non-vegetarian food. On account of this facility being offered, they have been doing good business.