IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT HON'BLE SRI ANIL R. DAVE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION NO : 6616 of 2009 Between: 1 Nava Bharathi Nirman Sangh Mahila Mandal Regd. Society Vide No. 5712/2000 Rep. by its President Smt. B. Sunitha W/o. Ramesh Naidu aged 40 yrs, R/o. H.No. 15-4-554, Afzalgunj, Hyderabad. 2 Jai Matha Mahila Mandali A Registered Society Vide NO. 5715/2000 Rep. by its General Secretary , Smt. B. Renuka Devi W/o. Subba Rao, aged 46 yrs, R/o. Ramanthapur Hyderabad. ..... PETITIONER(S) AND 1 The Principal Secretary, (Prohibition & Excise) State of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. 2 The Chief Electoral Officer, Elections, Budha Bhavan, Secunderabad. .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 1st respondent in not closing the belt shops by implementing the 2nd respondent order in true spirit as illegal, arbitrary violative of principles of natural justice fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14, 21, 47 of the Constitution of India consequently directing the respondents to take steps for closing belt shops with immediate effect Counsel for the Petitioner: PARTY-IN-PERSON (Not Present) Counsel for Respondent No.1: Non appeared Counsel for Respondent No.2: Sri S.NIRANJAN REDDY The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (Per Sri Anil R. Dave, CJ) This is a public interest litigation wherein the petitioners have prayed that sale of liquor by belt shops be prohibited during election of Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly in the State of Andhra Pradesh. 2. The learned advocate appearing for respondent No.2 has submitted that the petition has become infructuous because election was held in the State of Andhra Pradesh on 16-04-2009 and 23-04- 2009 and even the result of the election was declared on 16-05-2009. 3. In view of the above fact, the petition has become infructuous and, therefore, the same is disposed of as such with no order as to costs. ANIL R. DAVE, CJ RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J 25th June, 2009 ks