' SAAD SAOOD JAN, J.--Prior to 1977, the petitioner firm was carrying on the business of import of spirits. With the enforcement of the prohibition laws, an embargo was placed on the import of spirits. In order to compensate the petitioner firm for the loss it was likely to suffer on account of the said embargo, it was issued an import licence of the value of Rs, 15,000 for the year 1978-79 for the import of arms and ammunition. However, in the subsequent year the value of the import licence was reduced to bring it at par with those granted to other new importers. The petitioner firm protested against the reduction of the value of the import licence and made representations to the relevant Ministry but without any success. It then filed a civil suit to call in question the legality of the reduction of the value of import licences. The suit was decreed by the trial Court and its judgment was affirmed by the Additional District Judge. On a revision taken by the Federal Government, the High Court set aside the judgments of the subordinate Courts and dismissed the suit. The petitioner firm now seeks leave to appeal from the judgment of the High Court.
2. In its written statement the case of the Government was that it was under no obligation to rehabilitate the erstwhile wine dealers. The petitioner firm had been issued a licence for the import of arms and ammunition of the value of Rs,15,000 on an ad hoc basis by the Ministry while the other firms in identical position were given licences at the flat rate of Rs,3,500. The issuance of licence of the value of Rs,15,000 as a special case being a decision of ad hoc nature did not confer any right on the petitioner firm to get licences of the same value in the subsequent year, nor was it entitled to a more privileged treatment than was meted out to similarly placed new importers.
3. On our inquiry, the learned counsel for the petitioner firm was unable to indicate any provision of law upon which it rested its claim to an import licence of a value higher than what had been actually issued to it. The High Court was, therefore, justified in setting aside the judgments of the Courts below. This petition is without any merit and is hereby dismissed.