- (1.) AN order of the appellate authority under the marketing discipline guidelines of nationalised oil companies is under challenge; and, through it, the conduct of the Indian Oil Corporation in terminating an agreement with the petitioner firm for operating a retail outlet.
(2.) ON December 23, 1970 the firm was permitted to operate a retail outlet under a dealership agreement. A subsequent agreement was entered into between the firm and the Corporation on January 9, 1997. During the currency of the 1997 agreement the firm was found to have adulterated the petrol stored in the underground tanks at the retail outlet. The Corporation says that on december 24, 2007 its authorised agent detected an irregularity in the petrol stored at the outlet. On December 27, 2007 such authorised agent performed a marker test on the petrol at the outlet and the sample tested indicated adulteration. A report was filed to such effect.
(3.) ON the same day the authorised agent required the petitioner firm to provide the tank truck retention sample. By a notice of December 29, 2007 the firm was informed by the Corporation that the samples of the petrol would be tested at a laboratory in Haldia on January 1, 2008.;