M.S. Liberhan, J. - This judgment will dispose of civil writ petition Nos. 8597, 8803, 8822, 9016, 9149, 9175, 9326, 9564, 9632, 10892, 10893 and 13370 of 1996 involving common core of questions primarily on the same facts.

2. Broadly the relevant and necessary prefatory facts run thus :-

Licences for a fixed period i.e. 1 year to 2 years for running the liquor vends in the State of Haryana were granted by holding open auction on the premises of licensees. Licences for the hoteliers to run Bars, for brewers and distillers to brew and distil were granted subject to the terms and conditions provided in the licences.

3. Assembly elections were held in the State of Haryana in April 1996. The Haryana Vikas Party whose election manifesto was total prohibition in the State, formed the Government with the alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party. The State Assembly Session ended on 29.5.1996 and Ordinance No. 1 of 1996 dated 30.5.1996 was published in the official gazette of 1996 whereby the Punjab Excise Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was amended.

4. The Government of Haryana took a decision on 31.5.1996 to introduce prohibition in the State with effect from 1.7.1996. Resultan