JUDGMENT

K. Venkataswami J.-The short point that arises for our consideration is whether the Principle of Promissory Estoppel applies to the facts of this case. The facts are as under :

2. The appellants owned two sugar factories at Daurala and Mawana (Meerut) and at both these factories the business of manufacturing and selling of sugar by vacuum pan process was carried on. The Central Government promulgated the Sugar (Control) Order on 10.6.66 under which the sale of sugar by producers was controlled. In order to mitigate the hardship caused to the sugar industry in the establishment of new sugar factories and for effecting substantial expansions in the existing sugar factories, the Government sanctioned a scheme in November, 1975 providing incentives to the new sugar factories and also to those sugar factories who had applied for and completed their expansion projects during the period 1.11.75 to 20.10.80. The incentives consisted partly of higher percentage of levy-free sugar quota and partly of concessions in the excise duty. It was also announced that the eligible sugar factories will be entitled for the above-said incentives for a period of five years from the date of their c