APHC010327842011 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3459] MONDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM WRIT PETITION NO: 31686/2011 Between: 1. RAGHAVARAPU VENKATESWARA RAO, S/O VENKATA KOTAIAH, BUSINESS R/O D.NO.2-10-34, BURMPET, NARSARAOPET, GUNTUR DISTRICT, PROPRIETOR SRI VENKATA LAKSHMI GANAPATHI YOGANANDA, FILING STATION DEALERS BHARAT PETROLEUM ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS CENTRAL SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI. 2. HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD, REP BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR PETROLEUM HOUSE, 17, JAMSHEDJI TATA ROAD, MUMBAI - 400 020. 3. BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD, REP BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, BHAVANM 4 & 6 CURRIMBHOY RD, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI - 400 001. 4. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD, REP BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR G-9, ALI YAVAR JUNG MARG, BANDRA (EAST) MUMBAI - 400 051. 5. CHIEF DIVISIONAL RETAIL SALES MANAGER, INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED G.V.R.TOWERS, 3RD FLOOR, BHARATHI NAGARAM RING ROAD, VIJAYAWADA - 520 008. 6. TERINETORY MANAGER, BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED KATTUDADIPALEM (POST) PINAKA VILLAGE, 2 JS,J W.P.No.31686/2025 KONDAPALLI, VIJAYAWADA - 521 228. 7. SENIOR DIVISIONAL MANAGER RETAIL, HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED VIJAYAWADA RETAIL DIVSIONAL OFFICE NEAR SAIBABA TEMPLE, MANGALAGIRI ROAD, TADEPALLI VILLAGE, ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ or order or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents to appoint dealers (ROS) in Andhra Pradesh as per advertisement dated 12.09.2011, 15.09.2011 and 19.09.2001 in Serial No.147 Muppalla Village, Serial No.431 Bethapudi Village, Serial No.436 Mulakaluru Village, Serial No.442 Chagantivaripalem Village, Serial No.528 Mulakaluru Villae and Serial No.535 Bethapudi, Narnepadu X Road, Guntur District, Vijayawada Region is illegal, arbitrary, contrary to the minutes of meeting held on 17.09.2010 and 18.09.2010 and consequently direct the respondents not to appoint dealers for retail outlets in the above said places in Andhra Pradesh without framing of marketing guidelines by the Committee Setup as per the Record note of discussions held on 18.09.2010 chaired by Minister (P & NG) with representatives of federation of all India Petroleum traders and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2011(WPMP 39318 OF 2011 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondents not to take any steps for appointment of dealers for retail outlets in pursuance of the advertisement dated 12.09.2011, 15.09.2011 and 19.09.2001 in Serial No.147 Muppalla Village, Serial No.431 Bethapudi Village, Serial No.436 Mulakaluru Village, Serial No.442 Chagantivaripalem Village, Serial No.528 Mulakaluru Villae and Serial No.535 Bethapudi, Narnepadu X Road, Guntur District, Vijayawada Region pending disposal of the above Writ Petition, and pass IA NO: 4 OF 2011(WPMP 172796 OF 2011 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased IA NO: 5 OF 2011(WPMP 174012 OF 2011 3 JS,J W.P.No.31686/2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased IA NO: 6 OF 2011(WPMP 174780 OF 2011 Petition under Section 151 9CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. VENKATESWERLLU KESAMSETTY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. SAI SANJAY SURANENI 2. PENUMAKA VENKATA RAO 3. O MANOHER REDDY 4. DEEPAK BHATTACHARJEE 5. B HANUMANTHA RAO(SC FOR CENTRAL GOVT) The Court made the following 4 JS,J W.P.No.31686/2025 ORDER: The present writ petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…to issue a Writ or order or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents to appoint dealers (ROS) in Andhra Pradesh as per advertisement dated 12.09.2011, 15.09.2011 and 19.09.2001 in Serial No.147 Muppalla Village, Serial No.431 Bethapudi Village, Serial No.436 Mulakaluru Village, Serial No.442 Chagantivaripalem Village, Serial No.528 Mulakaluru Village and Serial No.535 Bethapudi, Narnepadu X Road, Guntur District, Vijayawada Region is illegal, arbitrary, contrary to the minutes of meeting held on 17.09.2010 and 18.09.2010 and consequently direct the respondents not to appoint dealers for retail outlets in the above said places in Andhra Pradesh without framing of marketing guidelines by the Committee Setup as per the Record note of discussions held on 18.09.2010 chaired by Minister (P & NG) with representatives of federation of all India Petroleum traders and pass…” 2. No representation on behalf of respondent Nos.2 and 7. 3. During the course of hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in so far as the 2nd part of the prayer is concerned, nothing survives for adjudication, as the dealers for the retail outlets are appointed in the year 2010 itself. Insofar as the 1st part of the prayer is concerned, he submits it may be left open enabling the petitioner to ventilate its grievance in an appropriate forum. 4. Sri Sai Sanjay Suraneni, learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondent Nos.4 and 5 did not object for the same. 5. Having regard to the submissions made and without going into the merits of the case, the Writ Petition is disposed of holding that no cause would survive in so far as second part of the prayer is concerned and insofar as the first part of the prayer is concerned, it is always left open to the petitioner to ventilate its grievance in an appropriate forum. No order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________________ JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM Dated: 18.08.2025 KAS