SK. NAZIR HOSSAIN Vs. BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has prayed for issuance of a mandamus directing the respondent authorities to cancel the candidature of the private respondent in respect of the RGGLV Scheme including the Letter of Intent (for short "LOI") and to award RGGLV distributorship for Sinnibar area to the petitioner.

(2.) An advertisement was published in the Bengali Daily Newspaper namely "Anandabazar Patrika" on 31/8/2017 for the purpose of appointment of LPG Distributor in the State of West Bengal. Pursuant to the said advertisement Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (for short "BPCL") invited application for appointment of Distributor for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (for short "LPG") at various locations under different categories. The last date of submission of such application was 18/10/2017.

(3.) Petitioner claims to have applied for LPG Distributorship in respect of Sinnibar within Sarishakhola Gram Panchayet, Keshpur Block in the District of West Medinipur. He submitted an online application on 26/9/2017. Petitioner was intimated by the authorities of BPCL that he qualified for draw of lottery which shall be held at the office of the authority of 6/6/2018. Pursuant to the said lottery, the private respondent was selected for grant of LPG Distributorship for the Sinnibar location. On September 20, 2018, the authorities of BPCL uploaded a list of eligible candidates for redraw for selection of LPG Distributorship. The petitioner came to learn that the previous selection of the private respondent was cancelled by the authorities of the BPCL and that a redraw would be held among the rest of the eligible candidates for the said location at an early date. However, for certain unknown reasons the redraw was kept in abeyance and the respondent authorities issued a LOI in favour of the private respondent.