DHANUKA D.R., J.:—By these writ petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have impugned the statutory notification dated the 14th of September, 1992, bearing No. BPA-1088/1866/EXC-3, issued by the Government of Maharashtra under section 139(1)(a) of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, declaring the area of Gadchiroli district of the State “as a dry district” by enforcing “prohibition” throughout the district with effect from 2nd day of October, 1992 and follow-up and consequential orders issued by the Collector of Gadchiroli on 15th September, 1992 directing cancellation of subsisting licences expiring on 31st March, 1993 with effect from expiry of 15 days from the date of the impugned orders. Prior to issue of the impugned notification and the said orders, the petitioners in Writ Petition No. 2116 of 1992 were holding licences to sell country liquor in Form CL-III for retail sale of country liquor for the period 1st April, 1992 till 31st March, 1993. The basic facts and the basic issues concerning the entire group of writ petitions are almost identical. All the writ petitions forming part of this group of writ petitions are heard togethe