‘Somebody trying to protect errant petrol pump owners’
Not satisfied with the action taken against some petrol pumps duping consumers, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court summoned UP chief secretary on May 25 along with his personal affidavit, stating why government order (dated May 2) had been issued that no action shall be taken against petrol pump owners/ occupiers but only dispensing units concerned shall be sealed.
“It appears that at some level, there is something wrong on the part of government also and somebody is trying to protect erring petrol pump owners by avoiding /deferring strict action against them,” the court observed on Monday.
This order was passed on Monday by a division bench of justice Sudhir Agarwal and justice Virendra Kumar - ll on a PIL filed by senior advocate Ashok Nigam and another person.
The petitioners sought directions for proper action in the matter of erring petrol pumps including cancellation of their licences and to initiate criminal proceedings against such persons associated with them.
On behalf of a respondent oil company, an apprehension was expressed that petrol pump owners may create a panic by closing petrol pumps, as they had done earlier. It was probably for this reason state had taken lenient view in the matter, it added.
“To avoid any such kind of black mailing or illegal activities on the part of petrol pumps, we direct state government that to meet out eventuality, if any such action or threat etc is taken/shown by one or more petrol pump, state government shall issue a direction to all district magistrates concerned to ensure running of petrol pumps by appointing receiver(s) and in no case any petrol pump owner will be allowed to blackmail people by such activities,” the court ordered.
Earlier, the court had directed the central and state governments, two oil companies, departments of food & civil supplies, weights & measures to file affidavit (reply) within a week, explaining as to what action had been taken against petrol pumps that allegedly duped consumers by dispensing less fuel by using computerised chip.
The court had also directed that the state shall also give details of criminal proceedings initiated against such persons and the present status thereof.