CHAMPA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has approached this Court with the following prayers:

(2.) The petitioner applied for allotment of Rural LPG Distributorship at the location Jodhiyasi, District Nagaur in furtherance of an advertisement issued by the respondent IOCL. Having been found suitable on all aspects, the petitioner was invited to participate in the draw of lots conducted on 29.11.2017. She was selected in the draw and was advised to deposit the requisite fee of Rs.40,000/- with the authorised officer vide letter/communication dated 30.11.2017. The petitioner further claims that the officials of the respondent Corporation carried out the field verification credentials and verified the location offered by the petitioner for godown/showroom. Despite fulfilling all eligibility criterion/requirements of the Rural LPG Distributorship, the petitioner who was eagerly awaiting the Letter of Intent, was shocked to see a fresh notification published in the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper on 1.4.2018 for online draw of lots for the distributorship of Jodhiyasi. The petitioner claims that the respondents could not have readvertised the location Jodhiyasi for draw of lots in view of the fact that she had been declared successful for the same in the selection process. Thereupon, the instant writ petition came to be filed by the petitioner seeking to assail the fresh notification (Annex.6) whereunder, the lottery for the various Rural LPG Distributorships including the location Jodhiyasi was proposed to be held by all the four Oil Companies. The petitioner also seeks a direction to the respondents to allot her the Rural LPG Distributorship for the location Jodhiyasi.

(3.) While entertaining the writ petition, this Court passed an interim order in favour of the petitioner on 4.4.2018 restraining the respondents from undertaking the fresh draw of lots for the location Jodhiyasi.