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 : 6614 of 2009 Between: Legal Aid for Rule of Law and Social Justice, represented by its Chairman, T.K. Kodandaram, Resident of H.No.3/A/3, Anjinamma Compound, Picket, Secunderabad - 500 026. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Secretary to Government, Excise and Prohibition Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 3 The Commissioner, Excise and Prohibition Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. 4 The Secretary to Government, Home Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. 5 The Director-General of Police, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. 6 The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Nirvachan Bhavan, New Delhi-1. 7 The State Election Commissioner, Budhapurnima, Secunderabad. 8 The Chief Commissioner, Income Tax Department, Ayakar Bhavan, Basheer Bagh, Hyderabad. .....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 writ or order or direction one in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ or direction declaring the in action of the Respondents 1 to 5 in not taking action in accordance with law under Article 47 of the Constitution of India, as illegal arbitrary and unconstitutional and fraud on the constitution and consequently direct the 6th and 7th respondents to conduct free and fair elections in the State of Andhra Pradesh by closing all liquor shops including belt shops till the present Elections are completed for the State Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies and also to take steps by the Respondents 1 to 5 in accordance with the provisions of Article 47 of the Constitution of India to impose complete prohibition to sell the injurious liquor in the State in the interest justice. Counsel for the Petitioner: PARTY-IN-PERSON (Not Present) Counsel for Respondent No.1: Government Pleader for General Administration Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 and 3: Government Pleader for Prohibition and Excise Counsel for Respondent Nos.4 and 5: Government Pleader for Home Counsel for Respondent Nos.6 and 7: Sri S. Niranjan Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.8: Sri S.R. Ashok The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (Per Sri Anil R. Dave, CJ) This is a public interest litigation wherein the petitioners have prayed for a direction to respondent Nos. 1 to 5 to close all liquor shops including the belt shops during election of Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly in the State of Andhra Pradesh. 2. The learned advocates appearing for the respondents have 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