( 1 ) IN this group of writ petitions, the Licensees under the Andhra pradesh Excise Act read with the Andhra Pradesh Foreign Liquor and lndialiquor Rules, 1970 call in question the Notification of the Government of andhra Pradesh amending the Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Foreign liquor and Indian Liquor Rules, 1970 by which the licence fee payable for f. L. 15, F. L. 16, F. L. 17, F. L. 18, F. L 19, F. L. 20, F. L. 21, F. L 22, F. L. 23. and F. L. 24 licences was enhanced and varying enhanced fee was fixed on the basis of population with effect from 1-10-78. That notification reads as under : "notification: In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 72 read with Sections 15 and 28 of the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act. 1968 (Act 17 of 1968), the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby makes the following amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Foreign liquor and Indian Liquor Rules, 1970 the draft of the same having been previously published as required under sub-section (1) of section 72, of the said Act.

( 2 ) THE amendments hereby made shall come into force with effect on and from the 1st October, 1978. AMENDMENTS in the said rules: - (i) for the existing Schedule, the fo