HC notice to PNGRB, IOC

The Madras High Court today ordered notice to the Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and Indian Oil Corporation on a plea seeking quashing of a notification inviting applications for appointment of LPG dealers by the oil marketing company.
Petitioner P M Sakthi Vasanthan, a Dalit from Paramakudi, sought quashing of the September 21 notification by the IOC on the ground that a provision that allowed SC candidates to get ready the site for godown and showroom after completion of the selection process had been removed.
He submitted that he had applied for a dealership based on the notification. In column 3(a) of the notification, it was mentioned that the condition on owning godown and showroom should be complied with before 30 days from the date of notification.

Earlier in 2009 and 2012, the notification for the LPG dealership stated that the candidates belonging to Schedule Caste were required to make ready the site for godown and showroom after selection process was over.
The petitioner alleged that, in the latest notification, the IOC had deliberately removed the earlier clause in order to help the people whom the IOC chose to give, particularly the existing dealers' family members.
The petitioner contended that the conditions found in the clause cannot be compiled with in 30 days and they prevented SC candidates to apply for appointment as LPG dealers.
Not granting any benefit to the SC candidates will defeat the purpose for which the reservation policy was being followed by the IOC.

Ordering notice, Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the Chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and the Chief Area Manager of IOC Madurai not to reject the application of the petitioner citing the clause 3(a) and (b).