ASHOK KUMAR Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners in these four writ petitions seek identical reliefs and bring under challenge before this court the same orders passed initially by the Excise Commissioner which were later affirmed by the Member, Board of Revenue. All these writ petitions were, therefore, heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

(2.) HEARD Mr. Ram Balak Mahto, learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner in CWJC No. 9084. of 2000 and Mr. Jayanand, Advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners in the other three writ petitions; also heard Mr. R.K. Dutta, S.C. IV on behalf of the State in all the four writ petitions.

(3.) IT is an admitted position that on the basis of the agreement arrived at between the State on the one hand and the parties to whom exclusive privilege was granted on the other, the petitioners were initially obliged to make wholesale supply of country liquor to the retail licencees at the following unified rates :