P SRIDHAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner had been allotted an STD/ISD/PCO booth on out of turn basis under Franchise Scheme at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI), Mathura Road, New Delhi. The grievance of the petitioner emanates from the fact that the respondent/MTNL vide letter dated 24.11.1998, notified the petitioner that there were outstandings of over Rs. 3 lacs in respect of Telephone No. 3782349 provided as STD/ISD/PCO at. NSCI. It had been closed on 28.3:1998. On account of this outstanding, respondent/MTNL was not willing to allot the telephone booth to the petitioner at NSCI on out of turn basis, as proposed.

(2.) The petitioner claims that he is not responsible for the outstandings of the previous allottee. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has filed an additional affidavit also, wherein it is stated that petitioner has neither any personal nor commercial relations with the previous allottee and in fact the previous allottee is not even known to him.

(3.) The stand taken by the respondent/MTNL in the counter affidavit is as under: