Doongaji and Co. Vs. State of M.P. & Ors [1991] INSC 181 (9 August 1991)

Ramaswamy, K. Ramaswamy, K. Kasliwal, N.M. (J)

CITATION: 1992 AIR 488 1991 SCR (3) 492 1991 SCC Supl. (2) 324 JT 1991 (3) 356 1991 SCALE (2)288

ACT:

Madhya Pradesh Excise Act, 1915 and Madhya Pradesh Distilleries, Breweries and Warehouses Rules--Order refus- ing to grant licence under sections 13 and 14 of the Act--Whether valid.

HEAD NOTE:

The petitioner and its predecessors had licence for distillery at Ujjain to manufacture rectified spirit and the last of such licence held by the petitioner was for the period 1.4.1976 to 31.3.1981. For the licensing period commencing from 1.4.1981 to 31.3.1986, the petitioner was unsuccessful and the licence was granted in favour of Rajd- hani Distillery Corporation. The petitioner impugned the same but failed both before the High Court as also before the Court. Thereafter, the petitioner filed a writ petition in the High Court claiming restitution of the distillery but failed and an appeal against the High Court's order was preferred before this Court, which has been disposed of whereby this Court has declined to grant restitution but directed that the petitioner should move an application before the State Government to have the value of the plants

licence on February 19,1982 and reiterated his request by number of reminders including the one in November 3, 1986.

In the interregnum, the Government policy was changed by a cabinet sub-committe policy decision dated 30.12.1984, whereby they decided to grant licence to the existing licen- sees of the distilleries and that they should construct the factories at their expenses on the land allotted by the State Government or acquired and allotted by the State Government and that they shift the business to new factories and the licence would be for a period of five years. Several writ petitions including the one by the petitioner were filed in the High Court challenging the policy. The High Court quashed part of the policy decision. Against that order, petitions were filed by the State and the unsuccess- ful petitioners including the petitioner in this Court.

Those petitions were disposed of by this Court by its judg- ment in the case of State of M.P.v. Nandlal Jaiswal and Ors., [1987] 1, SCR 1. The court upheld the validity of the Government policy. During the course of the arguments, the Attorney General of India conceded that if the petitioner makes an application for grant of licence, it would be considered by the Govern- 493 ment and disposed of quickly. Pursuant thereto the petition- er made an application on December 25, 1987. The State Government rejected the application by letter dated February 8, 1988, which among other things is impugned in this peti- tion under Article 32 of the Constitution.

It is contended on behalf of the petitioner that the intention behind the solemn undertaking given by the State in Nandlal Jaiswal's case clearly showed that the intention was to grant the licence to the petitioner rejection is contrary to the undertaking and violating the fundamental right of the petitioner to establish and trade in the manu- facture and distribution of the liquor; further it is dis- criminatory is as much as licences have been issued to others similarly placed. Alternatively, it is contended that if it is not found feasible to grant licence for Ujjain, the same be granted for Ratlam Distillery. Counsel for the State urged that it has not been found feasible to grant licence to the petitioner due to grounds stated in the order which are in confermity with the change in policy and the court should not interfere. On behalf of Rajdhani Distillery Corpn. it was urged that unless there is cut in the supply area of the operation of the existing licences and a sepa- rate supply area is carved out, no licence could be issued to the petitioner; that new policy is in vogue for the succeeding licensing period of 1991 to 1993, and the li- cences having been issued to persons, who are not represent- ed in this court, the court should not grant the relief asked 1or in the writ petition.

Dismissing the writ petition, this Court,

HELD: There is a change in the new policy which is in vogue. The licensing period is for two years commencing from 1.4.1991 to 31.3.1993. Admittedly, the petitioner had not submitted any tender in terms of the new policy for manufac- ture of rectified spirit or liquor for grant of D-2 and D-1 licences, the licences have already been granted to the third parties and they are not before this court. Any direc- tion in this regard would not only interfere with the li- cences granted to them, but also create a hiatus in opera- tional system. This Court cannot direct the State Government to create a new policy of receiving private applications or to direct the Commissioner of Excise to carve out a new policy area and to grant licence to the petitioner. It is not possible to give such a direction for the reasons that the petitioner, admittedly, did not offer himself as a candidate for consideration when tenders were called for licensing period commencing from 1.4.1991. As regards the Government Distilleries at Ratlam is concerned for grant of D-1(s) licence, as requested for, we have no sufficient material whether any arrangements have 494 been made to any other parties for supply area in that regard. Under these circumstances, it is extremely difficult to accede to the request made by the counsel for the peti- tioner. [498E-499A] & ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition No. 729 of 1988.

(Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India).

R.F. Nariman and P.H. Parekh for the Petitioners.

V.N. Ganpule. V.M. Tarkunde, S.K. Agnihotri, S.K. Sinha, Rajinder Narain. R.S. Singh and Rameshwar Nath for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by K. RAMASWAMY, J. In this writ petition under Art. 32 of the Constitution, the petitioner, a partnership firm seeks reliefs of mandamus to direct the State Government and the Commissioner of Excise of M.P. to allow the petitioner to set up a distillery pursuant to the cabinet policy dated December 30, 1984 and to grant D-2 licence; to declare the letter dated February 8, 1982 as unconstitutional, illegal and of no effect in law and to direct the respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to grant a licence to manufacture potable Alcohol within the state of Madhya Pradesh and to grant D-1 licence to supply country made liquor, etc. This case has behind it chequered history which is necessary to adumbrate.

In the State of M.P. v. NandlaI Jaiswal & Ors., [1987] 1 SCR 1 this court considered the legality of the policy, the subject matter in the writ petition. It was held therein that nine distilleries in the State of Madhya Pradesh in- cluding the one at U j jain were set up on the lands and buildings belonging to the Government. The plants and ma- chinery therein initially were of the Government, but in course of time the licensees installed or replaced the plants and machinery and became the owners. The petitioner and its predecessors had licence for the distillery at Ujjain for well over 40 years to manufacture rectified spirit. The last of the licences held by the petitioner was for the years April 1, 1976 to March 31, 198 1. The period of licence was at that time for five years. The practice as per the provisions of the M.P. Excise Act 1915 for short 'the Act' and M.P. Distilleries, Breweries and Warehouses Rules for short 'the rules' issued in exercise of the powers under s. 62 was to call for the tenders to manufacture and supply the rectified spirit or denatured spirit, spirit (country made) to the retail vendors 495 within the area attached to the distillery. Rajdahani Dis- tillers Corporation, for short 'RDC' became the successful tenderer for the licensing period starting from April 1, 1981 to March 31, 1986. The petitioner challenged in Misc.

Petition No. 701/81 in the M.P. High Court under Art. 226.

Initially stay was granted, but later it was vacated on August 20, 1981 Licence was granted for the period starting from August 25,1981 to March 31, 1986 to RDC and the dis- tillery, plant and machinery at Ujjain was handed over to RDC on August 28. 198 1. Thereafter the petitioner filed another writ petition No. 169/82 on March 16, 1982 for redelivery Of the plant and machinery and the warehouses and other consequential reliefs. That writ petition was dis- missed by the High Court against which Civil Appeal No. 5483/83 was filed, which is just now disposed of. The peti- tioner had applied for grant of licence on February 19, 1982 and he reiterated his request in number of reminders includ- ing one oh November 3, 1986.

In the interregnum the Govt. changed the policy by a Cabinet Sub Committee policy deci- sion dated December 30, 1984 under which they decided to grant licence to the existing licensees of the distilleries and that they should construct the factories at their ex- penses on the land allotted by the State Govt. or acquired and allotted by the State Govt. and that they shift the business to new factories and the licence would be for a period of five years. Calling in question of that policy several writ petitions including the one by the petitioner were filed in the M.P. High Court. The Division Bench partly allowed the writ petition and quashed part of the policy decision. Against it appeals and special leave petitions were filed by the State and the unsuccessful petitioners including the petitioner. It was disposed of by this court reported in Jaiswal's case. During the hearing of the writ petition, the Attorney General of India conceded that if the petitioner makes any application for grant of licence it would be considered by the State Govt. and be disposed of quickly. That concession was noted and the argument was founded thereon to hold that the Govt. did not intend to create any monopoly in favour of the existing licensees.

This court upheld the policy of the Govt. and allowed the appeals and dismissed the special leave petitions of the petitioner and other. Pursuant thereto the petitioner made an application on December 25, 1987 followed by several reminders. Ultimately the State Govt. rejected the petition by letter dated February 8, 1988, which is impugned in this writ petition.

Under s. 13 of the Act, the State Govt. is empowered to grant licence to manufacture, possession and sale of recti- fied spirit and the liquor in the distilleries or the brew- eries. Under s. 14 and Rule XXII the licensee should also have licence to establish distillery to distil 496 rectified spirit or denatured spirit or liquor and a ware- house wherein any intoxicant be deposited and kept without payment of duty, but subject to payment of the fee to the State Govt. as it may direct. No intoxicant shall be sold by operation of s. 17, except under the authority and subject to the terms and conditions of the licence granted in that behalf. Rule XXII provides the method of disposal of the licence which reads thus:

"XXII. Disposal of licences--(1) Licence for the manufacture or sale of intoxicants shall be disposed of by tender. auction. fixed licence fee or in such other manner as the State Govt. may, by general or special order, direct.

Except where otherwise prescribed, licence shall be granted by the Collector or by an Officer authorised by him in that be- half." Rule III to V of the Distillery and Warehouse Rules also made inter alia under sub-section 2(h) of s. 62 deal with the subject of grant of' licence and provide, in the follow- ing terms, for different kinds of licences which may be issued, viz., licences in Forms D-1, D-1(s) and D-2:

"III. Subject to the sanction of the State Government, the Excise Commissioner may grant a licence in Form D-1 and Form D-1(s) for the wholesale supply of country spirit to retail vendors.

IV. The Collector may issue, on payment of a fee of Rs. 1000 a licence in Form D-2 for the construction and working of a distillery to any person to whom a wholesale supply licence has been issued.

V. Subject to sanction of the State Government the Excise Commissioner may issue a licence in Form D-2 for the construction and working of a distillery on payment of a fee of Rs. 1000." The State Govt. rejected application of the petitioner on three grounds. namely, (1) that the petitioner requested to issue a licence at the old place at Ujjain Distillery which is no longer available; (2) present policy of the State and the Central Govt. was to discourage manufacture of liquor for drinking purpose, except for molasses. (3) 497 However, if it is manufactured from other raw materials other than the Mahua, his application would be considered.

If the petitioner makes an application for establishment or manufacturing denatured spirit at other places and if they produce a No Objection Certificate from Central Government and Environmental Department, his application would be considered.

The contention of Sri Nariman, the learned counsel for the petitioner, is that the State Govt. having made solemn undertaking before this court and the arguments were heard in Nandlal Jaiswal's case on the basis that the application of the petitioner would be considered and disposed of it was with an intention to grant licence to the petitioner, but rejection is contrary to the undertaking given to this court. It was also contended that the petitioner have a long, clean and commendable history of 40 years in manufac- turing country made liquor in the distillery and supply thereof within the area attached to U j jain Distillery. The State Government's non grant of licence thereto is only a rouse to defeat the fundamental rights of the petitioner to establish and trade in the manufacture and distribution of the liquor in terms of the provisions of the Act and the rules and the instructions of the Govt. in that regard.

Having given the licence to the other distilleries, the petitioner being similarly placed, non-grant thereto is arbitrary, discriminatory and violating Art. 14 of the Constitution. It was also further contended that the peti- tioner if for any reason cannot be granted D-2 licence at U j jain, D-2 licence may be granted on Government distillery at Ratlam and supply area attached to it under D-1(s) so as to do complete justice to the petitioner. It was resisted by Sri Ganpule, learned senior counsel for the State contending that pursuant to the undertaking given to this court, the application was considered and found not feasible to grant the licence to the petitioner due to grounds stated in the impugned order which are relevant and existant being in conformity with the change of the policy, and so this Court cannot interfere and may not issue the writ as prayed for.

Though rule nisi was ordered on March 17, 1989, despite notice of the Registry dated April 24, 1989, neither copies of the writ petition, nor the requisite process fee for service of the rule nisi on the respondents were deposited in the court. As a result the rule nisi was not issued to the contesting respondents Nos. 3 to 10. Along with the connected appeal which is just disposed, Sri Tarkunde, the learned senior counsel appearing for RDC which was impleaded as 5th respondent to whom licence was given for Ujjain Distillery, contended that unless there is cut in the supply area of the operation of the existing 498 licences and a separate supply area is carved out, no D-2 licence could be issued to the petitioner. The licensing period of 1986 to 1991 had expired by efflux of time. New policy is in vogue for the succeeding licensing period of 199 1 to 1993. The licences having been granted to the respective persons, who are not represented in this court, the relief asked for cannot be granted in their absence.

In our view there is force in the contentions of the respondents. The only question for consideration is whether it is a fit case for interference by this court due to the aforestated sequence of events. Undoubtedly the learned Attorney General assured this court that the application, if filed by the petitioner, would be considered. Obviously in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules. The policy of 1984 was upheld by this court under which nine distilleries were granted D-2 licences to manufacture recti- fied spirit and liquor and to supply to the retailers under D-1 licence within the area attached to each of the distill- eries. The petitioner admittedly made application to grant licence to manufacture country made liquor, obviously with Mahua flowers or molasses at Ujjain. The RDC established new distillery at Ujjain in terms of the new policy, at its expense, and is manufacturing and supplying the liquor. It vacated the old distillery at Ujjain which we are informed that the building is still existing. RDC had manufactured the spirit and country made liquor in terms of D-2 licence and supplied in terms of D-1 licence. The period of the licence also expired by efflux of time. Again there is change in the new policy which is in vogue. The licensing period is for two years commencing from April 1, 199 1 to March 31, 1993. Admittedly, the petitioner had not submitted any tender in terms of the new policy for manufacture of rectified spirit or liquor for grant of D-2 and D-1 licences, the licences have already been granted to the third parties and they are not before this court. Any direction in this regard would not only interfere with the licences granted to them, but also create a hiatus in operational system. This court cannot direct the State Govt. to create a new policy of receiving private applications or to direct the Commissioner of Excise to carve out a new supply area and to grant licence to the petitioner. It is not possible to give such a direction for the reasons that the petitioner, admittedly, did not offer himself as a candidate for consideration when tenders were called for licensing period commencing from April 1, 1991. As regards the Govt. Distilleries at Ratlam is concerned for grant of D-1 (S) licence as requested for, we have no sufficient material whether any arrangements have been made to any other parties for supply area in that regard. Under these circumstances, it is extremely difficult to accede to the request made by the 499 counsel for the petitioner, Though the petitioner had estab- lished long career in the field to manufacture, supply and distribution of intoxicants in the State of Madhya Pradesh for about 40 years, we cannot issue any direction as asked for.

Under these circumstances we are constrained to dismiss the writ petition, but without costs.

Y.L. Petition allowed.

 Back