THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA Writ Petition No.23651 of 2009 ORDER: 1 Assailing the action of the respondents in interfering and directing the petitioners to close down their business activities by 9.00 PM by threatening to arrest the petitioners approached this court and filed the present Writ Petition. 2 The case of the petitioners, in brief, is that they are the proprietary concerns and are established to do the business in the name and style of Blue Sapphire Restaurant and Bar and Trishul Bar and Restaurant and they have all the required licences. While so the respondents are insisting them to close down the business activities by 9.00 PM. The petitioners contend that in view of the licence issued to carry on business under the A.P. Indian Liquor and Foreign Liquor Rules, 1970 in FormNo.2-B (IL.17) dated 09.07.2006 and 31.07.2008, the petitioners are permitted to transact their business activities from 10.00 AM to 11.00 PM and as per Rule 15 of the Andhra Pradesh Excise (Grant of License of Selling by Bar and Conditions of Licence) Rules, 2005 made in G.O.Ms.No.997 dated 24.05.2005, the restaurant may supply food till 12.00 midnight. 3 Heard both sides. 4 During the course of arguments, the learned counsel for the petitioners has drawn my attention to G.O.Ms.No.997 dated 24.05.2005. Rule 15 of the said G.O. reads as under: 15. Hours of Business: The Licensee shall transact business from 10.00 AM to 11.00 PM. However, the restaurant may supply food till 12.00 midnight or as notified by the Government from time to time. 5 When the petitioners have all the required licenses and are carrying on business activities in accordance with the Rules and terms and conditions of the licence issued, the respondent authorities shall not interfere with the business activities of the petitioners. Further, when the G.O. itself stipulates certain business hours and permits the petitioners to carry on their business within the said hours, the respondents shall not direct or insist the petitioners to close down their business before the schedule time. 6 In that view of the matter, the Writ Petition is allowed and the respondent authorities are hereby directed not to interfere with the business activities of the petitioners so long as they carry on their business activities in accordance with the Rules and further, the respondents shall not insist the petitioners to close down their business before schedule hours as stipulated in the G.O.Ms.No.997 dated 24.05.2005. No order as to costs. ------------------------------ 03.11.2009 C.C. tomorrow B/o kvsn