RAHUL ASHOK SONALKAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. By consent of parties heard forthwith.

(2.) Petitioner was one of the applicants for LPG distributorship in Sangola, District Solapur, Maharashtra. In the selection done, respondent No. 5 was selected and given allotment. Pursuant to news item which appeared in the Indian Express, Government of India took a decision to cancel all allotments made with effect from January, 2000 consequent to the criticism in the Press and in Parliament. The cases were reviewed on 5.8.2002 by the then Prime Minister. Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Parliament and Natural Gas to cancel the allotments made with effect from January, 2000 and the formal order was issued by the Government of India Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 9.8.2002 cancelling all allotments. The allotment of respondent No. 5 was also cancelled,

(3.) Several petitions were filed before the various High Courts which were transferred and heard by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court by its judgment in (Onkarlal Bajajandors. Vs. Union of India, 2003 2 SCC 673 decided on 28.12.2002 set aside the order of termination except in respect of some allotments. In respect of these allotments a Committee was appointed to go into those cases.