Mutatis mutandis extension of connected writ directions with a time-bound direction to decide a pending TRQ licence amendment request.

Where a petition raises identical grounds to connected writ matters already decided, the earlier directions may be extended mutatis mutandis to the present case. The court also directed consideration of the pending request for amendment of the TRQ licence within four weeks, noting that the application had remained undecided despite a reminder. The petition was disposed of by applying the benefit of the earlier order and issuing a time-bound direction for administrative decision.

---

---

Issues: (i) Whether the directions issued in the connected writ petitions were to apply to the present petition on a mutatis mutandis basis. (ii) Whether the Director General of Foreign Trade was to decide the petitioner's pending application for amendment of the TRQ licence within a fixed time.

Issue (i): Whether the directions issued in the connected writ petitions were to apply to the present petition on a mutatis mutandis basis.

Analysis: The present petition arose from a similar factual matrix and involved identical grounds of challenge as the connected matters in which directions had already been passed.

Conclusion: The earlier directions were directed to apply mutatis mutandis to the present petition.

Issue (ii): Whether the Director General of Foreign Trade was to decide the petitioner's pending application for amendment of the TRQ licence within a fixed time.

Analysis: The petitioner's amendment request had been pending since 23 October 2024 and had not been decided despite a reminder, warranting a further direction for consideration.

Conclusion: The Director General of Foreign Trade was directed to decide the amendment application within four weeks.

Final Conclusion: The petition was disposed of by extending the benefit of the earlier order and by issuing a time-bound direction for decision on the petitioner's amendment request.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a petition raises identical grounds to connected matters already decided, the same directions may be extended mutatis mutandis, and a pending administrative application may be directed to be decided within a fixed timeframe.

---