ISHAR PRASAD BHATTACHARYA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in this application has, inter alia, prayed for issuance of writ or writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to pay unto him the interest accrued every five years on security deposit collected by the respondents. The petitioner has obtained a connection for supply of Liquidified Petroleum Gas from the Indian Oil Corporation and for that purpose he has entered into an agreement. The supplier has supplied the requisite equipments to the petitioner who is a consumer viz. the cylinder and the pressure regulators. The consumer is responsible for safe custody of the aforementioned equipment and is prohibited from selling mortgaging and/or otherwise encumbering the said equipments. According to the petitioner, for the purpose of obtaining connection for supply of such L. P. G., he had to deposit a security amount of Rs. 950.00 for two cyclinders and regulator. According to the petitioner, he is entitled to interest on the said amount. The petitioner by a letter dated 29.3.94 addressed to the Under Secretary, Government of India, demanded such interest. By reason of a letter dated 7.2.95, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited stated as follows :

(2.) In view of the fact that neither under the contract nor under any law, the petitioner is entitled to interest on any security amount, no writ can be issued in his favour as has been prayed for.

(3.) For the reasons aforementioned, this application is dismissed ": but as the petitioner has appeared in person, there will be no order as to costs. Writ application dismissed.