G.ALAGAR Vs. DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER-CUM- SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present writ petition, styled as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenging the order dtd. 19/3/2026 passed by the first respondent in Appeal No.1/2025, and consequently challenging the No Objection Certificate (NOC) dtd. 15/4/2026 issued by the second respondent in favour of the seventh respondent (HPCL) for setting up a MS/HSD Retail Outlet at Survey No.140/2B2, Karuvadikuppam Revenue Village and Survey No.223/1A/1A/10, Saram Revenue Village, Puducherry.

(2.) Before adverting to the factual or technical merits of the challenge raised in the writ petition, this Court finds it essential to evaluate the maintainability of this action under the Rules to Regulate Public Interest Litigations filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

(3.) Rule 1 of the said Rules mandates that every PIL must indicate that the petitioner has no personal interest in the case, while Rule 3 of the Rules requires an absolute undertaking that the petition is not propelled by personal gain, private motive, or an oblique purpose.