JUDGMENT

Petitioner's father was granted with a permit by the respondent Railways to run a bookstall in Kayamkulam Railway Station. He has been running the said bookstall from 1997 onwards (wrongly stated as 1988) till his death on 15.08.2015, on payment of prescribed license fee. According to the petitioner, it was granted under the scheme 'employment for educated youth'. Petitioner being the son and legal heir of the deceased, ought to have been permitted to run the aforesaid bookstall. However, the same was rejected by Ext. P4 dated 14.10.2016. According to the petitioner, petitioner has paid license fee upto March 2017, to the Railways and therefore, as a legal heir of the deceased licensee, petitioner is entitled as of right to run the bookstall. It is in this background, petitioner has approached this Court seeking to quash Ext. P4 and seeking other related reliefs.

2. The respondents have filed a detailed counter affidavit refuting the allegations, claims and demands made by the petitioner. Among other contentions, it is predominantly contended that by virtue of the notification issued by the Ministry of Railways dated 12.10.2004, all the book shops are liable to be granted a