( 1 ) 1. The petitioner seeks for the issuance of a writ of mandamus declaring the amendment to Rule 12 of the Andhra Pradesh Denatured Spirit and Denatured Spirituous Preparating Rules 1971 (hereinafter called the rules ) in G. O. Ms No. 336, Revenue dated 24-3-1971, as null and void or in the alternative declaring the same as prospective in nature and direct the third respondent to renew the licence without insisting upon registration of the petitioner s unit with the Industries Department either as an Industry or as Small scale Industry, as the case may be.

( 2 ) THE petitioner is a dealer in denatured spirits having three licences - (l)Wholesale licence in Form D S. VII, (2) Retail licence in Form D. S. IX, and (3) D. S. XI licerce for possession of denatured split to manufacture french polish, varnish thinners, metal polish, soaps and other denatured spirituous preparations and for industrial purposes, for more than ten years. These licences were granted to the petitioner even after the Excise act (Act 8 of 1968 and the rules made thereunder) came into force and he has been renewing the licence under Rule 17 of the Rules. Till 1976 the third respondent has been r