AJITHA GAS AGENCY Vs. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TAMIL NADU STATE OFFICE INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD. AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Mrs.Sudharshana Sunder, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.M.Ravindran, learned Senior Counsel, appearing for the respondents.

(2.) THE petitioner seeks for issuance of writ of certiorarified mandamus to quash the order passed by the first respondent viz. the Executive Director of the Indian Oil Corporation (Marketing Division), Southern Region dated 15.1.2014, and to direct the respondents to restore the petitioner's distributorship carried under the name and style M/s. Ajitha Gas Agency.

(3.) SUBSEQUENTLY , by another communication dated 8.11.2002, certain short falls were pointed out as against the petitioner. While the facts stood thus, the petitioner submitted a request in 2012 to convert the business into a Partnership Firm by inducting one G.Gayathri as his Parter. Copies of the Draft Partnership Deed and necessary documents were forwarded to the respondents. The proposal submitted by the petitioner was acceptable to the respondent Corporation and necessary instructions were given to the petitioner by communication dated 30.01.2013 and it is submitted that as a consequence, the petitioner entered into Partnership with said Gayathri and also obtained a Registration Certificate from the Registrar of Firms dated 21.2.2013. while so , the petitioner received the impugned order dated 15.01.2014, suspending the petitioner's Distributorship on the ground that he has unauthorisedly entered into Partnership with one Chitra and opened current account on 24.01.2012. The petitioner has challenged the impugned order on the ground that it is unreasonable and in violation of principles of natural justice.