( 1 ) THE petitioner No. 1 which is the Hotel Association of India and four other petitioners, two of whom are women employees in the hospitality industry have preferred this writ petition which challenges the constitutional validity of Section 30 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), which reads as under :-"30. Prohibition of employment of men under the age of twenty-five years and of women - No person who is licensed to sell any liquor or intoxicating drug for consumption on his premises shall during the hours in which such premises are kept open for business, employ or permit to be employed either with our without remuneration, any man under the age of 25 years or any women in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public. "

( 2 ) THE petitioners No. 2 to 4 are Graduates of Hotel Management and those who were completing the course of Hotel Management and looking for a career in the hospitality industry. Respondent No. 1 is Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, government of India, respondent No. 2 is the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, depart