Hon’ble Ashok Bhushan, J.—Heard Shri Satya Prakash and Murtuza Ali, Advocates for the petitioners and Shri S.P. Kesarwani, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State respondents.

2. Counter and rejoinder-affidavits have been exchanged, and with the consent of the parties, this writ petition is being finally decided.

3. The petitioners, licensees of Country Liquor Retail Shops in District Bijnore for the Excise Year 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 have challenged the demand notices issued by the District Excise Officer, Bijnore dated 17.3.2009 and 20.3.2009 requiring them to deposit the amount equivalent to less quantity of monthly guarantee quota lifted by the petitioners for the month in question within a week failing which the same be adjusted from their security deposit.

4. The brief facts giving rise to the writ petition are: The petitioners were granted licence for retail sale of Country Liquor Shop in District Bijnore. Some of the petitioners were licensees for the Excise Year 2006-07 and some of the petitioners were licensees for the Excise Year 2007-2008. Petitioners deposited the basic licence fee and the monthly instalment of the licence fee during the excise