P. VENKATARAMA REDDI, J.

( 1 ) THE amendment made to sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 of the Andhra Pradesh distillery Rules, 1970 and Rule 6 of the Andhra Pradesh Brewery Rules, 1970 enhancing the licence fee for obtaining distillery and brewery licence as the case may be, by G. O. Ms. No. 74 Revenue (Ex. III) Department dt. 1-2-1990 are being challenged in this batch of writ petitions.

( 2 ) THE petitioners in this batch of writ petitions are either the owners of distilleries or breweries. distillery means the manufactory where wines or indian liquors other than arrack, beer or toddy are produced. (Vide Rule 2 (c) of the A. P. Distillery Rules ). "brewery" is the place where beer is manufactured, stored, or issued (Vide Rule 2 (b) of the A. P. Brewery Rules ). Rule 5 (1) of the A. P. Distillery Rules provides for grantof distillery licence by the Excise Commissioner on the fulfilment of the conditions prescribed in Rule 4 and on payment of prescribed licence fee. In the year 1970, when the rules were first framed, licence-fee per annum was only Rs. 3,000/ -. In the year 1985, it was enhanced to Rs. 5,000/ -. In the year 1987, with effect from 9-11 -87, there was a steep hike in the licen

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