Hc Cancels Discretionary Petrol Pump Allotments

The Delhi High Court yesterday cancelled allotments of over 70 petrol pumps, LPG and kerosene dealerships to various persons from the discretionary quota of former petroleum minister Satish Sharma.

A division bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice D K Jain, in their 90-page judgement asked the government and the concerned oil companies to take over all these cancelled dealerships with effect from December 1, 1997.

The bench directed the government and the concerned oil companies to auction these cancelled allotments and donate the money raised from them to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund.

The judges said extraneous considerations weighed in the grant. of these allotments.

The bench directed the petroleum ministry to file the compliance report of the directions of the court regarding auction, in which the original allottees are permitted to participate, by December 15, 1997.

The amount obtained from public auction and remitted to PMs Relief Fund shall be utilised for social welfare schemes, including relief payments to flood victims or any other similar purpose, the bench directed.

The bench adjourned hearing on 21 cases of discretionary allotment by former petroleum minister B Shankaranand during April 1, 1992 and January 18, 1993, saying that it would not be proper to deal with these without giving an opportunity to Shankaranand to place his arguments before the court.

The bench said it would decide later whether or not to issue a notice to Shankaranand.