Sri Y T Narendra Babu S/O Y Thammaiah vs Union Of India on 28 July, 2009

[Cites 2, Cited by 1]

Karnataka High Court

Sri Y T Narendra Babu S/O Y Thammaiah vs Union Of India on 28 July, 2009

Bench: Anand Byrareddy

 

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IN THE HIGH comm 012' KARNATAKA AT BA?{GA$$);RE._
DATES THIS THE 3293; DAY 0? JIJL"}?I;:.:20{3§      

BEFORE-_;  %

THE HOWBLE MR. JUSTICE ANA233    

WRIT PETITION No.30~é6'*{)F 209? (SM-RES 3
...._LCONN ..C.."E;E;DVVWiIh"*'« % 
WRIT. PETITEON"N'u.1G-5&8 OF 2907
WRIT PE3'IT£0HNe;5a36 :_.1§__zG$7
AND WRIT *PE'?I'rIm~w3;s.ii4::2sx2-3:37 mm » (W: S }

WRIT PET:T;Qrs§}:¢,1t::  ﬁﬁ  x 

BETVS/;.'E--3-'ii  % A

1 .Sri Y.'1«';'E'%E_a2Ac:ndi'a_  " V.
S!<:,_'}"E1a:nzIi:ai:;h V _   
f'agr.«'4{$ about 53 yearn

 V'  - Na».-3'; Yeictaane iﬁvfiiiéin,
' 13*-»Stag¢;'.1§..C1*<;ss, We-st ofChord Road,

  Rajajii1g'g.a;', Ifffanigaiore-I0.

. PETITIONER

 _  (BygSri:R5_a;.§i'varma Kumar, Scniur C-uunsci.
'   ..f0§ (}..?3£'.Sfik3ﬂt$ Gowda, Advocate)

 '  2:513:
 _ 1. Uniun oflndia,

Represented by its Secretary,
Beparbncni of Peirolsum & Naiurai (332125,

8



'  j k VB3ngfaivs-nﬁ'-2_7.

N)

Shaslri Bhavan,
New Deihi.
2. IE? Company Limited
Head Qﬁice, Mimzbai, V    ~ , «.
By §ts Bcpuiy General Mmtagfgr (Mar_keEir;g}?._ '""  

3. IE? Company Limiigd  _   
IBP House, 34-A,  (_'3ha:_1k<ira, Sheet,
Kulkatxa-700 013.  * L      x " 

By its Managing DirAe_c§;§;;.VV   '»

4. The Gamma  (Sm}:hL'R¢gi:;r;;A%k *
IBP campan;§LLemima{j%%    %

10,   
C1§1'etpnt,- £",1f§1_1en1iij»V1i4-€5()v:")_:03l .  '  '

5. iI}£iA§?_!Zi Oii Cg:fp<§m;iiL11fiA"§..ic3.,
Représsntcd by in; Chigf I)ivisiona1Retail
Saiieﬁ Manag<:r,5B33-1gziiu":re T)iVisim23
 . «,_Sa:msun "€hz;__§_: igg: Ns.:s.29,
A*%P.1:*:a1ingg Rao Road,

..RESPONDENTS

SH. Murihy, High Cum'! Govcmmeni Pieaﬁcr for Respondent no.1, " '3?f'a§.R.VGt)}3&1akI'§ﬁfl!1a5 Adv? thr 'Rezxpxrmdents 220.2 in 5 ) $91"???

This Wﬁi Ftciiliun is {Bad under Axticics 226 and 22'? ca?

" the Censtiiutim of India, praying to direct the Respondents I is 5 ti: <.>v:m:*~;ider the app¥ic::3.ti<7t1 ﬁled by 133:: j'16ﬁ'fji€:t¥€:1'S5¥3t"it1}iftee szitic Anncxurc-Ci [:3 Cé for irsszsts -sf rcguiar drzaiershipfappuini petitionersfneminem as dealers iiﬂdﬂf thﬁ Rasponaientwﬁ ta :5. 82. em, /37 WRIT PETITION NQIOSS OF 2837 BETWEEN:

i.

2. ' *3 SIi.H.H.Shivakumar, SE0. Late Huche Gezswéa, Agcd about 43 ycam Shalini Niiaya Kcshava Road, Behind Gcwemment ?QIytee;:

Intiiranagar, v Hassan~§'?3 201.

SI11t.B.V,A§§é:suyéz;3:i1ia;'jV~L. "

'?J!:»..Ls.t¢V'I3_.Ve23;;gGpa1 .(_}up*£a.v V . Agvti ;A.nl<:itha4Ni!:;§?a;"» A & L Sumag;_u€§iARs.>;1d§ _ Chaﬂa}-:e::e,'v ' ' Sudha, '-Agéii .i.i§.>02,*l"v-ii years, A --,R,*'o. -"?4'QL;4j1-066, I" Cress, 'G}1;i1'g6VR£}&1d', G & H Block, Kuvémpunagar?

* ' <--MySr:re-570 aw, . %4-.

Sriﬁrun G-Toprmnawa3;

Aged amut $8 years, Ciuh Ruad, Bassav Nagar, Beigaum.

com Sri. Nitin Sﬁngadi, Aged aiiout 29 years, Residing at Th' Cross, .

Blsagyanagar, 7 Beigaum.

Sri.C_S.Pui1am§u, ' .

SEO. Sauna Thamme _Gowda,_____ Aged about 43 ycaﬁ, ._ 'A Rfo Chinna Kurli Vii1a'g:.=:,- '-

Chinnakurli Hubii, "

Pandavapur.af1'a.i:1k,;_' A Mandya _ 3: V' ° x _.PETiTIONIiRS {By Ciarﬁnsal? fur G.A.Srik2mi:.-2 Gowgia, AND: A 1 .» .

~ Ragxesanted by 'Secretary, Uﬁiun of Ii1d_i_é.V,V Dtgparixgient uf ?t':l1'Ulf:uII! & Naiur-ai Gas, . 2 Bhaiian,

-_Ncw D'\':;ﬁi:i..

Limited Hem} Ofﬁce, Mumbai, AA VT ~. By iis Deputy General Manager {Maﬂu:.l). EB? Cumpany Limited IBP House, 34-A, Nirmai Chandra Street, Kelkaita-700 013.

By its Managing Direcim:

4. The General Manager (South Region) IBP (.'.ompany Limited Ii), Mayor V.R-Ramar:a!han Road, Chetput, Chennai-600 G3 1. ' ' S. Mfrs Indian Oil Corgumtiu:3fL§d., ' Represented by its Chief Dixrviéianal V' Sales: Manager, Bangalnre T}1'\}§'§:.§£"3:1,u ' Sri.Sams0n Chauku N1_).29,,«'"" = P.K.alinga Rao _ Bangalore-560 02?. V V ".;.RESPONDENTS (By (:JdVa§f{VVGux#¢mman1P3cadcr for Respo::;1§=I:?; ':;_o.1"" » «' Sri.R.Gt'~spaIa%:t*is¢?i:;a., Adv,_,_ 'ii'i1-'Ré;3pi"xt1dettts no.2 tn 5).

Thia-;_ 'W:ii"P&"tiﬁun"'isj ﬁled undezr Ariichss 226 and 227 mi' the_Constiti:ti§3:i~<)f.In£§;ia;'~',€:raying to direct the Respmzdents 1 tea

5.. 13:) ccmsidef the appEiication ﬁled by the pa-.titia3t:et*s;h1cmsinee ' ' . A vxiiéié Aiznéreum-CAI""£i§'C6 for issuc of rcguiar deaaiershipfapponl ' mtitisnersgfgziazninees as dealers tinder the Respondent M2 {:3 :3. aI£d[At:i¢l;--«. bv - . V vJ:2n*j§ET1T1oN N0.6836 o1=;2_o07 R = BETWEEN;

' '3-- .Sr%.N§ihin Vcmiwiez-2h, Sf<;>.K.Venkatesh Aged aboui 31 yaansj N0.l.'27_. N Black, Adhichunchanagiri Road} Kuvempunagar, Myso:'e«57O €323 ...PETITIONER (By. Sri.G.A.Srikanlc Guwda, Advocate:

AND:

1.

§\) yi Union (of India, _ Represented by its Secreta19:yg.¢,.j4'\' ~ T)epa'rtment of Petroleum £:.r1d°'Nat1:i*a¥ Gas, ° ' "

Shazslri Bhavana .. _ "

New Eieihi. V 7 ' IBP Cumpan}:~.Limilg:d~ if WV _ Head Ofﬁca,' 3» * ' By its Drspuiy M:;1.r1agaﬁf'(4Ma§'£é'{ing)._ IBI? HauSe;.%'34¢ﬁ._.VN§m:._ Chandra Street, Kui2;a:2a--?0Q%a3';-3%. & % By i1§vM&ﬁag£n$'13ir¢i:tQf; Cgcnérai 'Suuih Region) V-IBP, Company H}, ' 2 , Mayér V:RfRamanaihan Rum}, _ c2;¢f:;;g:z, 4'Ché_;z.naj-600 03: . »...:z2di_a»;;1= Corporaiion Lid, By its Chief Divisional Retail Sales: 'Manager, Bangalme Divis;i:"::25 * "S1fi.Sam:sun Chacim NQ29, _' P".KaIinga Razz) Read, Bangaim"c- S60 02?.

..RESP(}NII}ENTS (By. Sri. E-i.K.Bas2-nsaraj, Gessemmenl Pleaticr, for Respondent no.1 Sx"i.R-Gupaiakrishna, Adv, fur Raspundcni Iu3-5) $$#* é '7 ;

Tm Writ Pcliiicm is filed under Articics 226 zi11s'3 22??_uf the Canstitution oflndia, praying to direct the Respen(iez§_t3j' "in 5 to consider the application filed by the peiiiiu::--g'éi:I'ngm:Iin't:¢:Lib? ' issue of regular dealership and to appoint peti1;énnj£;r{n:>;}:i.ne::V"as. ,V dcaiers uzzdt.-Jr Eht: Respondcnis nu.2 '.--u 5-and :§tc.,_ WP. N:_>.14528z'2007 BETWEEN: _ Sri.N.St:c£h:»:rama Shctty, Sfa late Sanjeeva Sheetgg,' .. Aged about 54 years, " VA _T ' Residing at 'Srilﬁéevi Dadszissaignii,K;ir2::1j<::73g'il1g:g;g:, . Mangalore 'I.'%.l_1:k;1T'i)ai:sIxiné-2. V % ' % ...'?E1TITI(}NER (By Advoesaici) .;A_I3_i_3_;

1- I§}.r§viLi11 of _____ H _ L'Re;§;?e36n1;§d by its $ecretary, I)epamis-estii ;f>f'Pe'tr<':IetmI & Natural Gas, W » Newﬂeijﬁgii'

2. IB3?fC7uﬁ1pany Limited " AA Office, Mambai, u $3.; its Deputy General Managcr {Marketing} EB? Company Lizniicd IBP Hausa, 3%-A, Nirmal Chandra Street, K{3§ka£ta.-7if)Q O1 3.

By its Managing Director 3 4V The Genera} Manager (South Regiiénj:---. A IBP Compmly Limited 10, V' A Mayor V-R_Ramanathan Road, Chetput, Ch3nnai--6O{) 031; _V

5. Indian Oil C-urpuraiiqn Ltd, By its Chief Divisi0ria§..&Ret5iil . V A Sales Manager, Bangéiom D_i3f§.$iun';' 'M Sriﬁamsora Chacko NQ_.2E?.,V 7 A " V' P.Kalinga R_uad;, " .

Bang=a}or5%:l';7.':;1ig'}"' _. ., Z:

V' ..RESPONDENTS (ByV/Sti} for Respundcni no.1

-Adv{:<:ate for Respondent no.5) 'u_', ". } ':"¢¥s£ V _ _v'i'}1i:s"'»VI*ii P¢1i1io_n'i~3' filed under Articles 226 and 227 uf the jCOn':3titn€iC}}i- Qf India, praying to direct the Respondents 1 ts) V' __ 5 '-isaéicegzsidzzr {he apigiiéaﬁon filtxd by the pciiiiunerfmrminzzc for » jsﬁijﬁ ._sf_ r¢lgaI_ar dealership appeint pctitianer,/nominee as ' v£ic.2%113?I'§'q:V1i1fl(§t3If"Q3V_€<2 Rtaspondcnls 2 to 3 and ale-., _ pc:Eiii0ns having been heard and 1't:::st.:rvt:d on 19.6.2039 and earning on far prenouncement 0f erders this day, C0"ufi delivered this foi1uwing:-

Thcst: petitions an: heard and uf are ﬁled in the background uf--.§i"1niiar i;ir_eum$i-31ic§§S"'a1i{i <.m" idcnlicaf grounds against' a;pmm.0ﬁ' rtégpdiiiicnts. A ' 2, The fags gf In W?' in be the owner of Ianciv xvhviiﬁ Q1u*::*;hcv2:4cspundcn1 - IE? Company fur " hgzeutlcl fur pctreitsum prmiucls.

KB? VC_Qm;$éi11}!V'i:a,¢:i pulic-y in Ociubcr 21302, whcrcbgg V' -. if :uwr.;::r u§Eft:(i I1is land fur iucaiing the said Compar:y's ozsilcirs fur ai}cas£ IS wars with a rcncwai ﬁp'ii_un .§iﬁ3{§£her 15 years and if the: 3:12:13 was suitable for the '' ..pVu rpo:§t.:*,' the Company would execute a lease: agraemsni and '".f:.'i'r£iicr (ht: land owner or his numinct: wuuid aim) be apps:-inied V' dtsaier in opsraic the uulici. Based on Ehcsc rsprcscnlaiiuzzs {ha peiiiiunczr had uﬁemd his hand wixich was taken 9:; 1:22:36, 3 20 under a lease: agrccmcni dated 02.06.2003 for a years, by the: rcspundsnt - Company. Thu _2pe<.%:1iii§;iz"2¥.~i1*" lhcrcaﬂcr required to obiain Clearan.w»VCc4r1iEC-aitéé §+~pm" w§riu'u§ V' siaiuiury aulhuriiics at {he pc!iEiunt:1°b'g in of the: outlet. This invulvcd cnnffxauzszs §:iTetE~..aI'1:i VE:--x,'1V:'ir.:"I'xcsii{urr:." Tim ratail uuﬁcts wc.*!'¢:"§::stabiisIi'edL-gommiésionvéd ant? the Company mmmcnecd opet¥aA;i::ii$:»c;§£' as a "Company uwned C(JI!}f3*;§iI'!.jr}"':::71;})t:I":i§--_t:(_i2a9 '9s:_{§c}i. A nominee of the pciiliﬁrgnt-;r__ xsr.-cis;'L'::;¥;3_§;3:'ir11c:JV»éia._ an opcmiur with an assummséz that [ha pciiEim.} c:1' x»m'uld"be as a dealer £22 due course. The coﬁ'it2:1§i$2 ihéti {he pciiliuncr has been pcrsua-dad to ~ Iltszagsgz ihe.1an_ii*-ﬁat a nominai amuuni unify an {ha assurance: heid 'a:.;u't~ihat'ii§:;%jw;3Ldd be made 21 dealer in disc course. And it is this agsﬁrafigp again which had prumpicd the gaciiiiuner ks trxpcnd 'ri1{§:;.cy and effort in Eh: ssiabiishmmni 9f the mgiiel. Thc Epciilinncr is said Lu flaws manic: an apgiicaiitzsn xceicing {Q be i.3i3:':f€:I'I'!3d ihw dcaicr-shi§3, Huwevtzlg the rczspundcnb Cumpany in rcvcrsai ofiizs carliur policy seeks is (ﬁaim that ii has adupicd 3 1} if, new policy in du away with £12»: pmciicc uf pruv&Vid_ii:g"{§%é:§.ierf ship £1} the land ovvncr of autism t:S1ab§iS}Xﬂ(7i.V§;f§i.'~--:':;:():{:{j' and it is an this basis thai rcspundcéfgi - aezgzks: Viga' the deaicr-ship in the pctiliunca'.

In 'Writ Pcli{iL3r§'" 058f2GC!i pctiiiéj'ne:'£:V' are iand owners and ﬁavc leased ti:-::Ai_r of land to the rcspundtznt €19" vpcizfulcuna rtsiail uuileis. The 'p*af£icuiars of their nominccs who }£avt-'. the respondent - Cumpany in open-:i.¢ i.hé:" gﬁuiiets £211 COCC) basis. Huxwwr, sinus ihe .rVt§':4:';*eL.)r1E+§'i§::r':i$~.«_i'2z:1.=c: Eiilcd 01" negated {he originaﬁy inienécd a rsguiaz" dcaisr-ship is ﬂu: pciiiiuners in cOi;3id3i"a¥'i:§h of ihztir land having be-tzn uffered an lung icase at "a=.;_xuIﬁinal mat and un aucuazzi of éhc azapilal expcnééiure in ssiablixirx the uuiich the pciitiamesrs are befum this ' " C3311 Similar is the case uf the pcliﬁoncrx in Wﬁi P ;'£r;§§_iu;} 6836,5200? and Wrii Pesliiiun i4S28:'20{)7. The rcspundcnis have resisted; Lh¢:_:_;t: " . grounds. Al the ouisci it is dismantling of the Adm§nis5.;f§i§iVve Px"i.<'_:ingV V 'm<5t;Har:isin of" pciruicum products, wiﬁh {)I:0£i;2G6:2 by (ht: Minishy of Pclruicum referred Eu as 'MPNG' fey" cumpany had Gmb'df'!§6d.__§§X:QﬁtEé%iUI§ of its retail mslvmrk uf uulicis by seﬁting u«;:i= and Company upcraicd (COCG) L§uﬁt:ts. Thi'z=.:y_:;§ssubjeul lu ﬁnaiisaiiun uf iht: Cum;':a.ny':~'. ' izioiiszy of appuinirnrsni of dcaitzrs. As per the poliazy .<§:i:i€.£i ii prmsidcd inter alia for appuinlmeni cf land uwners (11: {hair rmminucs as cieaicrs, wherecvcr ihtz sites warn ﬁﬂzfiii suiiabie. The puiiuy aim: pruvided fur cunvcrsiun uf _,v'¥3§><is1ing CZOCCVS tu dzsaltsrships. But it is the cast: of the respondents that {ha outicis {hat arc the: subject mater uf these: paiiiiurrs art: not wwrtsd undwr ihai guiicy. As the award of 6 £3 rt:-laii nails! dcaicreships was suspandtsd with _ Fcbruaxy 2093, pending, fonhulaliun uf 'g£§i&:_:§£:§é:sVV , in that regard. A new policy waS.__ fu:'r3:;éiait:<3; -.vV£iiih" ihr; 'ﬁre concumznct: of the MPNG, add" 'i_t_r1picm.+:11it:d 'QI1Ai§{ wi1}1--'¢:ffaci. from Scpicmber 2003._Thc r'a:ia1:: L>u'£;;§--:;i:s iiizii-.a1fc:_if}1c subjcsui mailer of ihuse peéiliumi 'h'§1xI§:} g__%F;%n 2£:§ifr2.1:fI'§$:~;iuncd during the interval bcl\~*c§:I1::I7::If3ru:-;§;fV3QV'§1i}';§ are not {severed under the cailiégr _ V it is (:t§:IEVci:£ied 'peiiiiuners vwrr: iﬁuliy awara: lhai ihe; pulicyV'iEJ_f a.wz§:':i ﬁaaicrships was kttpé in abeyance ai the __L¢cmmisé§0::i§ag' the uzzéleis and the least: if hand was ﬁiigg-rcfQi'é_:'A§§r'i'i§§()'ag{ any wndiiiuns aiiacfzud as to grant :3? z§ca_§:rship'.' cxprcss icrms cf the icsasc cicada $313136 the pariies in the' :n§_i'St3lIC6 of any ccmdiiion in this regard. Thaw is 11;; A' --,,ii'§:¢ga} ur arbitrary aciiun that can be qucsiizmcd by ihc = ....p}:iiii13I2ers:. it was inciéczziai khai ﬁle naminccs vi' the pcﬁiiuncrs were appointed as Ivfaénienancc and Handiing C<.&23£ra2::z.>r 3:395 zhm cigszumrsianss by iirscif §3:)e'.;3t% ::oE.. land 1:; ta: :3 14 Frcﬁumpﬁun that the pﬁliiiuncrs wcrc V' dealerships, in the cvcni outlets bgs.

converted as dealer opcrdimi r§:£§1i1u1kjilz::i:S«...A. V . The: rcsspundtznis are T ihc Government of gpccgﬁcd caicguritzs such 33 war widows, ex-:~:t:rviccmf;;f_'.:v _:. !i;:;vr:' i::§éii'£iuncr:-5 an: in be auuum1I;Qf§2;tt:(§::- as ciaimed the:

mservﬁion' 'deck;-ﬁitzd. There is no zzcslcd ﬁght crtsaicd ifi fagfurgf; (Sf cuniétnciﬁzgiwﬁhjai an the mihcr hand, the iertns {sf ihc £i€?,(§(g.CQ1[iﬁ2If ax: uzzwndiiional Iéghi an (be: rzzzspundenis in ':33: and even in finance 3 ﬁhird-pariy to use ﬁrm 'V same: .. Tigczv expcndéiurc inczzm-xi by {hrs pciiiiasncrs on the fjé§c:s!£:3£--_,:pmcni of 5312: siic at £21 cxpcdiiing siaéuiury appmwafs ur ' pérznfssimzs was an the pciilioncrs' awn iniizlaiiw £0 have: [Em 4 %I!tsﬁi of {he rcniais in an eariy cvmmissiuning of {ha o::¥.ic£ and RUE as a quid--pm-qua} for a dcaiership being awarded. 6

The aiiegatiun lhai the rcspundmts have some other simiiziriy piactzd land uwncrs Vi:=.::!.§t:ni+:c'i?'. «, Thus: uikura were said in be cm=c:rc:.i».__unde::j$}1é'=2§}Q2"pL}§iV§:-;{_. ;, A' Thcs petitioners masking 'iQ'qucsti:§n they 1;§:u3is:~jy is nui, * tenable. This policy dated " p§1§s£§;!:i1i lo ﬁle Guideiincs daied Thercfureﬁ it is contended ihzzé, pciiiiiqzzﬁbc.égiifiiggis-Staci; I f ShéV*1'; TRia.\!ixr:§i'ii2a'K,{1'mar,.'Séiiiur Advucaie: a ark: I fur . 4 s the cuuﬁé-;<::l" for ihé"p§:£iiit>z§€:rs»~cunic11(§s as Fulimvs:

5' --T§°zt: ' ViZr;.§,IVﬁ1'éi€;"'i 'iris bc:£wt:4::n the pekiiiuntzrs angi the '' «.r.§:$up<3:1'''é t':r1i_."éaﬁumpany is uiaimezsd in be a §::a:~:z: dcczi pure: and the peiiiiuncrs am: izsound by 532:: sxprma {cans Dﬁﬁktt And furihtrr that in Fcbruaxy 2063, the farther xaL'wgILi {':f retail uuiiei dcaicrships xvers suspeﬁdtzd pending tint:

fz'::t1"A11ing. ufa fresh seisciiun poiicy guidcfincs. The appu%n§',m:.mi «sf :1 mamine.-as of iht: pzsiiiiuncrs as the upcraiur {if {he uuéitsi in Ehc mtzanxwhifc 'wax inc-icieniai. Ami Lhctreibrc the petitioners are 16 nu: ezsiillcd in claim any vcsattzd righi, is ihc sum and suit-3;~_:la11c¢: of the respondents' ubjezciiuns. In response, he that neguiialiuns as bciwtscn the ptriilioncrs and the: ré:zpox§§ieﬁ£s fxad ' ccrnnzcncczd much prior to Fabruaijr, 2'3{33v éndi'i§1§ anivcd at, for [hit pwiiliuners [Q gran! lh:§.7"it3aSt: <)f7'-§}1:::§r *' it} expend cffuri and muney,V'VL4Lwi;Ais that the daaitzrship in rcspcci Vx:JI.' :t'§1§:: "e\:_4;m.IdM ht: granicd to the prciitionz-:13. Thczafaezi t§}22i":»:.¢::i.fr:rVzt3A_a i"" have ﬂied {heir é§3pii_uaii{né$-azidé foiher particulars in ibis: regard is a cast: point' _Tizis»~ eicariy the understanding, and ii is an that line: puﬁcy of the ysar 2002 was ' f.;£:r_yVnz.;;ch 'i:'g i«:3__gu:: ai {he rclcvani pain: up? time. 11 is aiso nut i§::§:'i'téd ficiiﬁuncrs hat} ac-iivciy pursucd {he applicaiiuns bcfurcs §}r:;_ri§3us siaiuiory authorities in ubiaining Lbs manciaiury gsréiaéssions zmd clearances in esiabiishing [hes uuiieis, zvhich faquirwd susiaincd eiﬁgris ané subsianiiaf cxpemiiiurc. The respondents seeking it} dismiss ihal ixziiialixrcz as being aiizibulabie la ihc rsnihusiasm £3? 3:; eager lessor iv rm:-cixu: rczzis 6 under the lease agreement and tea cunicznci that the r:§tzit:§i3t;'S'§lAip was purely one of 3. teaser and 12336: is net rca1:S{3n,a.b_ié;-." Tilt: icnur of the lease deed not indicadng{s'u<::h tt t;g)n;:ii"ti¢:n;Gf owner of the land air.-in being dettiarstzip n mnclusivz: of the intention of t}§€L.}::§étrt.ies_ V The rcspundents ;lti\§" that the pulicy LII the year from February 2{}{)3 1§i:ntc:§i§:i{::1 is f51ii"'ft§rth 11):" tin: first time in the statcmésnt uf wﬁrzrcsncc to a purported E-mail t:omm_unicautio§1V cf Fuiéiiuafy 2003 and the ptsiiliumszrs wcm: nmter . infutitnivki tifthtz It is thereafter that the rcspundcnts are :Segt§l§j'I1gV4:'t:;v"<ft§n;}.:~'awarding, deaktmhips to the petitioners citing new pt};ﬁ{:§? «guidclincs. The petitioners have at} atztcd pursuant . *§(3 [4ht:VV23i)02 poiicy and it is net upen. fer the: rcazpundcznts tn the beneﬁt at' the same: to the pc£itiuner:~.:_ The furthtrr uircarnsianuc: that the nominees of the pctitiuncrs were agpuintcd as Maintenance anti Handling 38 (I.¢m1m£;iurs is aisu a puinier to the assurantzu pciiliuncrs that dcaierxhips would be L:-1LI9I!.§q\';?I'l"'t§f.__i>':§I~!.:Q(.ii,iA_V'.:'?' vi.§4u£:i':~:a9}_' V' aﬂer clearance of ccriain ibrznaiiiicsil The: glaring uircumsiaticrr; £haV{. ihr: awarded dcaicrships even sLib:s;¢q2;Vcnl "§::>_ V} su-caiicd suspension of the 2002 V:7pL)li«_cy{_iz5 " by iht: fact that numerous deairsrgixips have' ::§§§"£§§,:::I ihc wuniry in respect :3}? «i'1*£x.*:x__:-:«:;4.L_:p.i.i_{\11';.~:':_: 5;_ifz:§_la:i" {£5 ilzéw pciiliuncrzs and the pt:£i[iuf:,crs' are a§;ﬂ's;§'i3niEy at £112: whim and fancy of {he auiiluriiieczé gamnid -_ be; S 'czzyidcrzi from [ha reazorcix: wf £hc: 15s.§3r§--------§§Qm {he iisi uf such ds:a§t:r3hi;3:; gmniad, v.{f1_icE: gfreaduccai bcﬁsrc éhis Cami. éjfiééniur Adxiucaie has placed rciianca on Ehc fuiluxéing aulhurilics, nmncly, " Amnum Sagan Lia'. vs. Camzrnerciaf Ta}: Qﬁfcer and Qihers, (.2905) 1 SCC 625, 3 Q

32) BALC'0 Emplayees Unit»: (regal) .3. Union qf 2002 SC' 350, A {,9 .45.-hm; Smokeless CoaIIr1cI£agi§}MA»V1:§in§1£§z1 pa:

Union offndia and uihem-.. 640"V'A' 2 41:? Ashok Kumar A/1c:}re.sa':wan' .V Sfgle 1998 SC 965- % ', 2,) Jacob Philip. u£}2e;_%.g§;g_ and oiherzs, AIR \ , " .... ..

]) Vis;Iczr£=:z if"t#};v"2£:2r;j;'V1'21§i'i:,sjIffit;f.s---Lfmiled and anotherr vs. Staie: of A/1u1§.«m;;«1;;rakM% AIR 1994 BOMBA 1' 155,

- {rigs 513:: of promissory cstuppci as being A ap=g3§ig$avhI::,ii3 -circumstances of the case.

" {fuunml for the rccspondcnls an the oihesr hand wank} sustain ihc action of the rcspondunts as being, icgai and ﬁfaiid and being in uunsunance with the prcvaiiing puiicy and more pariiculariy the respondents being bound in mi in compliance with the directives of the: Ministry <31' Peimlwm and 3 26 Natural Gas of the Government of India. The Counsel geeks £0 place reiianee on several auihuriiies {£3 contend Eizété absence of any right created either under under the Maintenance and HandlirégAAC{}n&ra'e-I Ref b a dealership. There is my ground uﬁ?.=._vl1:ie_h lhe p_'eﬁ'ti:msV considered.

In the backdrop bi' Ii-E16.' L.a.%ve t:iJr.i£e12lions, it is it: be nuiieeai' {Rain ei%.> "nt>{'v'deny that under the policy am: irtevegue W 2002 Ar dealership at the retail maiieits wazfinv its the land uwners such as ihe Ag;eEi{ai.ui1'ersVVM'wif2e their i.-and on lease in ierxns of the 1 iwwever {he ease Ltd' the respundenis ihai the ;3<5,).Ii'e3r""aA)I' 2082 was suspended during February 2003 V. re, 'the fonmsiaiiun mi' ﬁezeh puiiey guideiines and that [his h*wbas:A in aeeurdanee wiih ax: Ewmaii eemmunieaiien gzroxiueed ms u "zjésnnexnre-RI in the Siaiemcni ufQbjeciiem»; in WT' 1{)16;'2€)i3'?¢ This message daied 5.2.2903 reads as fuiiuws: S 21 "Kindly suspend ail reiaii antic:-.t expaxxsiml prcrgramme forthwith per the policy guidelines £ssued 16 you earlier during the year, I repeat, no ﬁlrther retail outlets wiii be pat no fecsignitioiz wiii be taken of any commitment made tili'Vﬁy111};¢}*' adviisgz ﬁr-;:m MED."

This is adclresscd by 023:: Vghra and olhcrs. Apari ﬁum lhc a33uxrc, '§Vi_1t:ér¢ 1di}..§§ti1c:=. rh %iic:iTa¥_V pmduccd to indicait: that i}lt:'--._4,3':vt",gg3li'ai;t3i2$.V with ihird»:;5z¥.fi§<;:'sT' ih¢"§3§$'ii!ion£§Vf$.vp0ssib1y an 111:: basis of the 2002 \'.N'6!"t: .f§i;!A:£ 95;' "Car steed suspenécd. 'l"'h¢:rt: is: airso no Ifniéil/t.§I'iEi.i Vf}17§)f(i[li$"C3(.{ E=.=3 zgcmunsiralc that ihird-pari.it:s such as could no iungtrr pmctscd in aaxumc film 21 of ihc mspondcnis wuuid mat appiy £9 31} subsequent to February 2883. Thttrc is no ., produced in show that the pciiiieners wart: in.i.hrmc(i ':s'i.A:ch suapensivn ufihe policy of {ha year 2382"

On the other hand, an a.f:idaviL is ﬁicsci on behaif vi' the Uniurz sf India in WPIOIGJQCIO1; by a; Dcpuiy Szzcwiary in ihc: 3

Ministry of Pciroleum am} Natumi Gas to slam. -.':;ii'2_:_;,_V5 _ with cmsct from 1.4.2002, the Giliﬂlﬁtiarkctéiig' = India enjoy commercial freedom in the :_j11a.!£er'uf mgirkéiiizg disixibutiun {If pclmlcum pmL§L;{:'i~§. Aird iiml has no rule: in the sclccﬁiqn prgus:s.$"v:«t_par£ fru:i:'pro1,§i§iing broad guidelines on puiicy isi§:s_:6s, c1J_£::é_ul§ai£on with the mi} marketing Comparzics. Thisﬁs i.1;§"ti1_*;1_r;:" [Er ensure kxansspamncy and unifu§iniiy';. " were in fact issued on 19.8.2903 :i%:g'c<.§§1r:;3ani¢s conccmed have framed their dclailwd « [I1 :s1a£c:iV 2ii--{)a:;fa_grap}x 6 of the aﬁidavit as fuilows:-

V' T. " "S&£1$équa1ﬂy, with a, View to improve in the .' ' selection af c§eaia1*s;'distt'€buto1's for lending '}§1e:$i*«:; htfamjyaretxcy in the selection procedure, this A. minim:-y Vida leﬁer No.P-;9z}::::;2e<;4-1m:: dated 27*' = _:December, 2004 had advised that GMCS shouici temporarily suspend aliminxezsi 9f deal-2-.rships axldez' rim:

'Land Qwziers' category; which were being cieane by the OMCB without foiiowing the trazxspnarezat procedures iike @ adverﬁsezrxernts, etc. A copy ef letter dated " amiexed hereto as Anet1xure--R~1.:'2." '-- V' " " I! is thus clear that {he rcspL§i1(.¥tiéi:lS"[\vz:§r¢: :':';,~L_ cumpulsiun at the instance: Gt3'w::rf:sx;ur;i t:vf"'india iuw' suspcnd aifolmcnt of 1.4.2002 to 27.12.2004- The: r¢~$f1iSi§ti'£§t;.i-cumpan3,» as to there being a§~vs'z':%a=;;§t1%nsi1§;1 (Ef year 2002 from February"'2QQ3;»péiiiiing'fQr*:nu§éiEi'urf uf guidciincs is hence nut subsiafi'{ia'icd.V If.E4m;§i§§,@;!3mmunicaﬁun relied upon by the respQ1;d¢nl;"'V{}{1mpi:n§?'v.\.¥éi§i'c: is; be appiitad "aﬁ retail vulici V. ., was [:3 VB£':Mi~:Vna*pended ~ nu! merciy (ht: afiutmcni of noiwilhslanding (ht: changed pvlicy guitinlirgiss Aihc aiiuimeni uf deaiarships in favuur :2? lanai e:x2x¢:.1c:rs'*~?.il cannui be said {hat {hat petiiionnrrs were mu induced the poiiuy, adupicul by ihc respayndsni-Company at the "Rézicvant point of time, ﬁn uﬁcr their iami an lease: in {he cxpecmiien of being aiiuitcsd dsalmships. The; docirinc of 3 promissory castuppci and 9f lcgilimaizs cxpe¢:la1.ic2ﬁ ' \&{uu id" éapgjiy ' in the uimumslances uf the case.

Accordingly, the \wr"ii 'pg;iiﬁdns art: '1V"hs: respective Anncxures ir9pugn¢d..§fc:.her§b}i ii The rcspgrjdcnis the applic-aliens filed by 1: for issue of dmtcmheps gr mm; on which lhe reiail 3 And on similar 1:1:-rmzs and condiiiun'3;--._t:s%§;: £55 gags: Qfvtixcr {and owners immcdiaicly prior _ ' . Thgsvmspondenis shaii wmply wiih £311: same: ' four monﬁxs frum ihc: dais: of receipt {J a .(:e1';')'yA of Sd/-

Iudge I13'

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