JUDGMENT

S.B. Sinha, J. — Leave granted.

INTRODUCTION

The Appellants are before us in the second round. They, except the State of Chhattisgarh, were granted excise licences. Grant of such licences indisputably is governed by the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, 1915 (for short “the Act”). On or about 15.3.2002, the State Government under `the Act’ made rules known as Chhattisgarh Excise Settlement of Licences for Retail Sale of Country/Foreign Liquor Rules, 2002 (for short “the Rules”).

2. The State issued notices inviting tenders for grant of licences under the Rules. Pursuant to or in furtherance of the said notices inviting tenders about 2,64,703 applications were filed. The grant of licences in favour of the Appellants in some of the appeals came to be questioned before the Chhattisgarh High Court. By reason of a judgment dated 31.3.2005, a Division Bench of the said Court allowed the writ petition and directed cancellation of the licences. Appeals thereagainst were filed before this Court. Interim orders were passed therein as a result whereof licensees continued to carry on their business. This Court, however, while refraining itself from setting aside the entire selection process though