LATIEFUL HASSAN LONE Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners being partners of a registered partnership firm responded to a Notification issued by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., respondent No. 2 herein, for award of dealership for retail petrol outlets on 24/11/2018. The whole process was initiated online, as such, the petitioners also submitted their application online for rural dealership of petrol retail outlet in District Ganderbal. Along with the application, the petitioners, inter alia, submitted the revenue extracts reflecting their ownership of the required land available with them in the District Ganderbal. All the eligible applicants including the petitioners were considered by the respondent-Corporation in the draw of lots, held on 14/2/2019. The petitioners were lucky enough to be selected for the retail outlet dealership which was to be commissioned on the location within one kilometer of village Gadoora from Buchpora to Ganderbal, District Ganderbal.

(2.) It appears that pursuant to the selection of the petitioners, the verification of the land offered by them for commissioning of the outlet was done by the Land Evaluation Committee appointed by the respondent-Corporation which found the land offered by the petitioners not meeting the required norms. Therefore, their candidature was rejected and they were intimated that they may be considered for selection along with Group-3 applicants as per the Guidelines for selection of dealers for regular and rural retail outlets through draw of lots/bidding process ['the Guidelines'].

(3.) The petitioners are aggrieved by the communication of the respondent-Corporation whereby they have been informed that the site offered by them has been found not meeting the required norms by the Land Evaluation Committee and consequently, their candidature has been cancelled and they have further been informed that they may get considered for selection along with Group-3 applicants as per the Guidelines.