K.A.Swami, C.J.

Writ Appeal No.631 of 1996 is pre-ferred against the interim order dated 7. 1996 passed by the learned single Judge in W.M.P.No. 13110 of 1995 filed in W.P.No.8180 of 1995. When the appeal came up for admission, after hearing both sides, we considered it necessary to hear the writ petition along with the writ appeal, as the arguments in the writ appeal and the writ petition are the same. Accordingly, we directed all the Writ Petition Nos.8046 of 1995, 8079 of 1995 and 8180 of 1995 to be posted for hearing along with the writ appeal. Accordingly, we have heard both the sides in the writ appeal and the Writ petitions.

2. W.P.No.8079 of 1996 is filed by the Manipur State, whereas Writ Petition Nos.8046 of 1995 and 8180 of 1995 are filed by the respective Agents of the Mizoram and Nagaland States, who have been authorised by those States to sell their lottery tickets.

3. In the writ petitions, the petitioners have sought for quashing the order dated 6. 1995 passed by the State Government in G.O.Ms. No.819, (Home (Courts-ID Department. By the impugned order, the State Government has banned the sale of single digit and instant lotteries by the said three Stat