SURESH SINGH Vs. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the counsel for the petitioner and the counsel appearing for respondent no. 2 as well as counsel appearing for Indian Oil Corporation, respondent no.1.

(2.) PETITIONER has filed this application for a direction to the authority of Indian Oil Corporation to consider his candidature for appointment as operator of Kisan Seva Kendra for village Lai under Bihta block of Patna District. The candidature of the petitioner has been rejected by the authorities of Indian Oil Corporation on the ground that the petitioner does not fulfil the eligibility criteria as residential certificate has not been filed alongwith the application.

(3.) THE question for consideration is whether photo -copy of the identity card issued by the Election Commission of India can be a substitute for a residential certificate duly issued by a competent authority. The competent authority for issuing residential certificate is the Revenue Officer of the concerned block and district. Only revenue authorities have been authorised to issue residential certificate, for the reason that such certificates are issued after holding an inquiry regarding the fact that the person concerned, in fact reside in that area, on permanent basis. In case of photo -copy of identify card issued by the Election Commission of India, admittedly no inquiry is held for certifying that the person concerned is a resident of that area. The address is given on the basis of the address supplied by the person concerned. In this view of the matter, it cannot be held that photo - copy of the identity card, in any way can be a substitute for a residential certificate issued by any competent authority.