Sri Ram Bharatgas And Others vs Union Of India And Others ..... Opposite ...
2025 Latest Caselaw 856 Ori

Orissa High Court

Sri Ram Bharatgas And Others vs Union Of India And Others ..... Opposite ... on 3 July, 2025

Author: Aditya Kumar Mohapatra

Bench: Aditya Kumar Mohapatra

                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
                               WP(C) No.18127 of 2025

            Sri Ram Bharatgas and others           .....                Petitioners
                                                           Represented By Adv. -

                                                           Mr. Millan Kanungo,
                                                           Senior Advocate
                                                           along with
                                                           Mr. Soumya Ranjan
                                                           Mohanty
                                           -versus-
            Union of India and others              .....         Opposite Parties
                                                           Represented By Adv. -

                                                           Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI
                                                           along with Mr. S.S.
                                                           Kashyap, CGC



                                 CORAM:
            THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ADITYA KUMAR MOHAPATRA

                                          ORDER

03.07.2025 Order No.

01. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual /Physical Mode).

2. Heard Mr. Millan Kanungo, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Petitioners. Perused the writ petition as well as the documents annexed thereto.

3. The grievance of the Petitioners in the present writ petition is that the Petitioners, who are distributors of the oil companies, had built up their consumer base. However, by virtue of the

impugned notification, the oil companies are trying to take away of their consumer base by pre-adjusting their area of operation.

4. Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Petitioner further argued that the conduct of the oil companies is causing serious prejudice to the distributors, as they had invested money and worked hard to build the consumer base over the years. In course of his argument, learned counsel for the Petitioners further referred to the judgment of different High Courts wherein such circular was challenged and the same has been quashed by different High Courts.

5. Taking into consideration the issue involved in the present writ petition, this Court is of the view that the matter requires further hearing in presence of all the Opposite Parties-Oil Companies.

6. Accordingly, issue notice on the question of admission to the Opposite Parties.

7. Since Mr. P.K. Parhi, learned DSGI along with Mr. S.S. Kashyap, learned Central Government Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of Opposite Party No.1-Union of India, a copy of the brief be served on him within three working days hence.

8. Requisites for issuance of notice to the Opposite Parties No.2 to 10 by registered post with A.D. be filed within a week hence.

9. Counter affidavit, if any, be filed within four weeks hence after serving a copy thereof in advance on the learned counsel

for the Petitioners.

10. List this case in the week commencing 18th August, 2025.

11. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioners.

12. Issue notice as above.

13. Accept one set of process fee.

14. As an interim measure, it is directed that the operation of Circular dated 21.02.2025 under Annexure-6 to the writ petition shall be kept in abeyance till the next date.

( A.K. Mohapatra ) Judge Debasis