N.K.Sodhi, J.

1. The petitioners in this bunch of 43 petitions bearing Nos. 4778, 4718, 4759, 4760, 4761, 4812, 4831, 4839, 4840, 4848, 4849, 4872, 4878, 4879, 4880, 4888, 4901, 4933, 4955, 4956, 4966, 4971, 4972, 5114, 5331, 5414, 5415, 5417, 5691, 5721, 5834, 5862, 5919, 5939, 5940, 6078, 6191, 6192, 6401, 6422, 6566, 7449 and 7540 of 1992 filed under Article 226 of the Constitution hold L-14A licences for the financial year 1992-93 obtained by them in an auction held for the purpose in accordance With the provisions of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, as applicable to the States of Punjab and Haryana. These licences are for retail vend of country spirit including rum and gin and, on the strength of such a licence, a licensee trades in the licensed premises in alcoholic liquor for human consumption (other than Indian-made foreign liquor). A licensee who is a successful bidder is required to pay the entire amount of licence fee in twelve monthly instalments. Every licensed premises popularly known as the vend has a fixed quota of country liquor/alcohol and the licensees keep lifting for sale from time to time the country liquor from the distilleries (manufacturers). Before the