MANAS RANJAN DAS Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners are Sub -Wholesalers for distribution of Kerosene oil to retailers form nine different Blocks in the district of Keonjhar. In this writ petition, they seek to quash the appointments of opposite parties 3 to 19 as Sub -Wholesaler of kerosene in 10 different Blocks in the district of Keonjhar as per the Government order dated 8.1.2002 at Annexure -7. According to the petitioners, the appointment of opposite parties 3 to 19 as Sub -Wholesalers is contrary to the circulars issued by the State Government. The petitioners allege that they (opposite parties 3 to 19) were appointed at the behest of the local M.L.As.

(2.) COUNTER affidavit have been filed by the contesting opposite parties denying the allegations. The common case of the contesting opposite parties is that vacancies had arisen on account of resignation of the concerned Sub -Wholesalers or on account of suspension of licences necessitating fresh appointments. They have also stated that the existing Sub -Wholesalers have not been distributing Kerosene oil at regular intervals and thereby depriving the local people to get Kerosene Oil. Besides this, the existing Sub -Wholesalers resided at remote places causing inconvenience in fair and equi -distribution of Kerosene.