Rajasthan petrol dealers move HC against oil marketing companies over fuel sale restrictions

Petroleum dealers in Rajasthan have filed a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court, alleging oil marketing companies are restricting petrol and diesel sales through verbal instructions and WhatsApp messages.

A dispute between petrol pump dealers and oil marketing companies over alleged restrictions on sale of petrol and diesel has reached the Rajasthan High Court.

The Petroleum Dealers Distributors Transporters Welfare Association on Wednesday filed a writ petition with the court's Jodhpur bench, accusing Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited of issuing verbal instructions and WhatsApp messages to sell fuel in limited quantities.

The petition further claimed that dealers were warned of punitive action, including suspension of petrol and diesel supply and halting of sales, if they exceeded the prescribed limits.

In the petition, the association, citing the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, argued that only central or state government has the authority to regulate or restrict their production, distribution and sale through a duly issued notification.

The petition contended that no such statutory order was in force, making the restrictions imposed by the oil companies completely illegal and beyond their jurisdiction.

During the hearing, the court was informed that a copy of the petition had already been served to the Government of India, following which the court appointed an advocate to represent the Union of India in the case.

It also instructed the counsel appearing for the oil companies to be provided copies of the petition.

Justice Mukesh Rajpurohit has posted the matter for hearing on May 25.