MUSAFAR AHAMMED Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners seek to direct the 2 nd respondent to allow them to apply for LPG dealership at Valancherry location pursuant to Ext.P1 notification.

(2.) By Ext.P1 notification, the PSU Oil Companies invited applications for appointment as LPG distributor. The last date for submitting application was 09.04.2020. The date was later extended to 03.06.2020. The petitioners state that they could not upload their applications by 03.06.2020 due to the pandemic situation prevailing in the State. It is the specific case of the petitioner in W.P.(C) No.11262/2020 that he took on lease land for the purpose of establishing the LPG Distribution Centre and the lease deed was registered on 03.06.2020. After registration of the deed, when he tried to upload the application, he could not do so as the system was closed by 5 p.m. that day.

(3.) The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.11335/2020 also could not apply for the dealership in somewhat similar circumstances. In the circumstances, the petitioners prayed that respondents 2 and 3 may be directed to consider the applications of the petitioners also, in the interest of justice. The counsel for the petitioners strongly urged that their disability to make application in time was solely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and consequential lock down across the country. The petroleum companies will not be put to any disadvantage if their applications are also considered and processed.