JUDGMENT

Bharucha, J.-These are appeals against the judgment and order dated 8th May, 1996, of a Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, passed upon a writ petition filed by the first respondent, M/s. Yoginder Sharma Onkar Rai & Co. The subject matter of the writ petition was the auction of liquor vends of Group Nos. 108 to 111 in Khanna Circle, District Ludhiana, State of Punjab for the year 1996-97. The first appeal is by the State of Punjab. The other appeals are by the successful bidders.

2. The auction took place on 11th March, 1996. On 18th March, 1996, the first respondent filed an earlier writ petition (Writ Petition No. 4047/1996) before the High Court challenging the auction. Thereon the Division Bench ordered :

"After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record were are of the opinion that the points raised by the petitioners do require a consideration by the competent authority authorised a reject the higher bid offered and the auction held. The disputed questions of facts raised in this litigation can also better be appreciated by such authority.

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In view of the facts and ci