GEORGE MATHEW Vs. SATYAJEET RAJAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This contempt of court case is filed by the petitioner in W.P.(C) No.8157 of 2020 of this Court on the allegation that the respondents have wilfully disobeyed the interim order dated 18.03.2020 passed by this Court in that writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner was the licensee of the toddy shops in Group No.IV of the Kothamangalam Excise Range from 2007 onwards. The licence was allotted to him for the years 2014-2017 as preferential right as per Rule 5(1)(a) of the Kerala Abkari Shops Disposal Rules, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules').

(3.) On 24.02.2010, samples of toddy were taken from the toddy shop T.S.No.15 of Group No.IV of Kothamangalam Excise Range as per Rule 8 of the Rules. The chemical analysis of the sample revealed that it contained ethyl alcohol by 8.23% by volume which was in excess of the prescribed limit as per Rule 9(2) of the Rules. Consequently, a case was registered against the petitioner as Crime No.9/2017 of the Kothamangalam Excise Range under Sections 56(b) and 57(a) of the Abkari Act.