JUDGMENT

The petitioners challenging Ext.P9, passed by the 5^th respondent, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Kollam, pursuant to the direction issued by this Court in W.P. (C) No.32067/2025 dated 27.08.2025. The petitioners objected to the grant of a licence to the 2^nd respondent to open the FL-1/2019 liquor outlet. The said proposal was rejected earlier as per Exts. P1 and P4 on the ground that there was no local need or requirement as contemplated under Rule 13 A(1) of the Foreign Liquor Rules. It is alleged that the proposed beverages liquor outlet is situated in a densely populated Village.

2. Earlier, the petitioners had preferred W.P.(C) No.15381/2025 with the grievance that the Beverages Corporation was proposing to open a FL-1/2019 shop in Ward No.8 in Thazhava Grama Panchayat within the Kollam District. At that stage, no licence was issued to the Beverages Corporation, and the Writ Petition was disposed of, directing that the objections raised by the petitioners also be reconsidered while considering the matter. Thereafter Ext.P4 order was passed declining the request for a license.

3. Petitioners again filed W.P.(C) No.32067/2025, when a licence application was pending before th