IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 28TH MARCH 2008 / 8TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 10681 of 2008(V) ------------------------------------ PETITIONER: ----------------- SISUPALAN, AGED 46 YRS, S/O. NARAYANAN, SARASWATHI VILASAM, POTHENCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST. BY ADV. SRI.N.RAGHURAJ SMT.K.AMMINIKUTTY RESPONDENTS: ----------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY SECRETARY, TAXES(A) DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE EXCISE COMMISSIONER,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE ASST. EXCISE COMMISSIONER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF EXCISE, NEDUMANGADU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST. 5. THE DIST. COLLECTOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY SR, GOVT. PLEADER SMT. ANU SIVARAMAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28/03/2008 ALONG WITH WP(C) NO. 10739/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, J. ------------------------------------------- W.P(C).Nos.10681 & 10739 OF 2008 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 28th day of March, 2008 JUDGMENT Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned senior Government Pleader. 2. Petitioners in these cases jointly applied for toddy shop licence with a claim for preference. They state that their preference is not being considered on the ground that the petitioner in W.P(C).10739/08 is involved in certain criminal cases relating to alleged commission of offences punishable under the IPC. That is not a ground for denying preference in terms of the abkari policy for the year 2008-09. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of directing that the applications of the petitioners shall not be refused on the ground that any among the petitioners is involved in any criminal case on the allegation of any offence punishable under the IPC. Sd/- THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, Judge kkb.