JUDGMENT

[WP(C) Nos.35003/2023, 2229/2024, 2778/2024, 13939/2021, 21968/2022, 18183/2021, 25407/2023, 30153/2022, 28577/2020, 3153/2024, 3229/2024, 34328/2023, 3377/2024, 40231/2023, 9792/2024, 10622/2024, 44186/2023, 44294/2023, 16596/2024, 28321/2024, 30328/2024, 30519/2024]

Heard Mr E K Nandakumar (Sr) assisted by Ms Akhila Nambiar, Mr M Krishnakumar, Mr Jawahar Jose, Mr Raju K Mathews, Mr N Raghuraj (Sr) assisted by Mr Vivek Menon, Mr Tom Thomas, Mr Joseph Markos (Sr) assisted by Mr Abraham Joseph Markos, Mr M G Karthikeyan, Mr Saiby Jose Kidangoor, Mr Millu Dandapani learned Counsel for the petitioners, and Mr V Manu learned Special Government Pleader to the Advocate General.

2. The petitioners in this batch of writ petitions are private limited companies, except for United Breweries Limited, United Spirits Ltd, and the Lalit Resort and Spa, Bekal, which is owned by M/s Bharath Hotels Limited, which are listed public companies. The petitioner - Janatha Tourist Home, is run by a partnership firm, and the partners are the family members, M/s Kannur Surya Residency is run by a Limited Liability Partnership. The petitioners are either distilleries/breweries having licenses under