M/S. Seraphic Products v. The State Of Maharashtra Through Principal Secretary (State Excise) And ORS.
DDR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.7717 OF 2016 M/s. Shreenath Mhaskoba Sakhar Karkhana Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4109 OF 2018 M/s. Jakraya Sugar Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4110 OF 2018 M/s. Bhange Organic Chemicals Pvt.Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4111 OF 2018 M/s. Vitthal Corporation Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4112 OF 2018 M/s. Sterling Chemicals & Alcohols Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4113 OF 2018 M/s. Seraphic Products
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
WITH WRIT PETITION NO. 4114 OF 2018 M/s. Athani Sugars Ltd.
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Maharashtra & ors.
...Respondents
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Mr. Vinayak R. Salokhe a/w. Mr. Ramesh Lad i/by. Mr. D.B. Savant for petitioners.
Mr. Sandip Babar, AGP for State.
....
CORAM : SHANTANU S. KEMKAR & M.S.KARNIK, JJ.
DATE : 4th APRIL, 2018.
P.C. :
Heard learned counsel for the parties. Admit 2.
Rule.
3.
With the consent of the parties, heard finally at the stage of admission.
4.
It is not in dispute that the question involved in these Petitions is covered by the Judgment passed by the Division Bench of this Court in various Writ Petitions including Writ Petition No. 8548 of 2004 in the case of M/s. Arss Biofuel Pvt. Ltd. vs. State of Maharashtra and Ors. decided on 13 th December, 2017.
5.
In the circumstances, for the reasons stated in the judgment passed in the case of M/s. Arss Biofuel Pvt. Ltd. (supra) these Writ Petitions are disposed of in terms of the order which reads thus :
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"(a) The Bombay Denatured Spirit Rules, 1959 to the extent that they regulate the possession, use, sale, import, export and transport of denatured spirit viz. Rules 23 to 62 are ultra vires and unconstitutional and are struck down. (b) There shall be no licence required under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act for sale, purchase, transport, possession, storage, dehydration, import and export of denatured spirit.
(c) We hereby clarify that the power of the State Government in the case of rectified spirit supplied for industrial purposes is only to see and ensure that rectified spirit, whether in the course of its manufacture or after its manufacture, is not diverted or misused for potable purpose. The State can make necessary regulations requiring the industry to submit periodical statements of raw material and the finished product (rectified spirits) and is entitled to verify their correctness. (d) The Writ Petitions are made absolute on the above terms with no order as to costs."
6.
Rule made absolute in the aforesaid terms.
(M.S.KARNIK, J.) (SHANTANU S. KEMKAR, J.) 3/3