BAIJU.K. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The writ petitioners, who are foreign liquor vending licence holders, have filed these writ petitions when the Apex Court delivered judgment in State of Tamil Nadu and others v. K.Balu and another [2017 (1) KHC 26 (SC)], prohibiting vending of foreign liquor within 500 metres of National Highways.

(2.) When these writ petitions came up for admission, this Court passed interim orders directing the respondents to consider renewal applications in respect of their licences, if there are no legal impediments standing in the way, especially the proposition of law laid down by the Apex Court in State of Tamil Nadu (supra).

(3.) Learned Government Pleader submits that the WP(C).No.14612/2017 and Connected Cases renewal applications were considered consequent to the interim orders passed in these cases and wherever the authorities found no legal impediments, renewal was granted. Further, these licences were in respect of the Abkari Year 2017-2018.