The Rajasthan High Court yesterday stayed the allotment of new retail outlets of three oil companies that were advertised through the Central Government..The advertisements were made by three oil companies namely Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)..In the order passed by a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice PS Bhati, a stay on allotment of nearly ten thousand outlets in the State was imposed..The petition was filed by one Birbal Ram who was represented by Advocates Ankur Mathur and Kuldeep Mathur. The petitioner has prayed for the setting aside of the advertisements in question and for the Respondents to be directed to comply with the existing laws before initiating the process of allotting more retail outlets..The petitioner preferred this petition against the advertisements dated December 14, 2018, on being concerned about the welfare and environmental impact of the petroleum industry..It is contended by the Petitioner that the Central government’s move to set up 65000 outlets across the country is a move with upcoming elections in mind. Of the 65000 outlets, as many as 9646 are sought to be set up in Rajasthan alone..The petitioner assails that there has been no assessment carried out by the Respondents before resolving to set up such a high number of retail outlets and this move may adversely impact the environment, public health, rights of workers among other things. The petition states,.“That the entire emphasis in the present PIL is on the fact that no assessment, feasibility and viability was carried out by the respondents before resolving to set up such huge number of new retail outlets thereby affecting the environment, public safety, impact on existing market, rights of workers, welfare of public at large and violation of existing laws. ” .The petition also details the impact such a high number of petroleum outlets is likely to have on the environment along with dwelling on the issue of feasibility and viability of new establishments. Even issues of the potential impact of such a move on the existing market are raised in the petition, which also lists several other factual aspects that “ought to have been considered” by the Authorities..The Court today issued notice to the Respondents in this regard and directed that no new retail outlets can be allotted until further orders of the Court..“Till the present order is vacated or modified no new retail outlet be allotted to any party in the State of Rajasthan”.The matter will be heard next after four weeks..Read the Order:
The Rajasthan High Court yesterday stayed the allotment of new retail outlets of three oil companies that were advertised through the Central Government..The advertisements were made by three oil companies namely Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)..In the order passed by a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice PS Bhati, a stay on allotment of nearly ten thousand outlets in the State was imposed..The petition was filed by one Birbal Ram who was represented by Advocates Ankur Mathur and Kuldeep Mathur. The petitioner has prayed for the setting aside of the advertisements in question and for the Respondents to be directed to comply with the existing laws before initiating the process of allotting more retail outlets..The petitioner preferred this petition against the advertisements dated December 14, 2018, on being concerned about the welfare and environmental impact of the petroleum industry..It is contended by the Petitioner that the Central government’s move to set up 65000 outlets across the country is a move with upcoming elections in mind. Of the 65000 outlets, as many as 9646 are sought to be set up in Rajasthan alone..The petitioner assails that there has been no assessment carried out by the Respondents before resolving to set up such a high number of retail outlets and this move may adversely impact the environment, public health, rights of workers among other things. The petition states,.“That the entire emphasis in the present PIL is on the fact that no assessment, feasibility and viability was carried out by the respondents before resolving to set up such huge number of new retail outlets thereby affecting the environment, public safety, impact on existing market, rights of workers, welfare of public at large and violation of existing laws. ” .The petition also details the impact such a high number of petroleum outlets is likely to have on the environment along with dwelling on the issue of feasibility and viability of new establishments. Even issues of the potential impact of such a move on the existing market are raised in the petition, which also lists several other factual aspects that “ought to have been considered” by the Authorities..The Court today issued notice to the Respondents in this regard and directed that no new retail outlets can be allotted until further orders of the Court..“Till the present order is vacated or modified no new retail outlet be allotted to any party in the State of Rajasthan”.The matter will be heard next after four weeks..Read the Order:
