IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 29TH AUGUST 2008 / 7TH BHADRA 1930 WP(C).No. 24133 of 2008(W) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. P.K. SATHEESAN, P.K. PETROLEUM BPC DEALERS, PATHIMANGALAM, WYANAD ROAD, KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE. 2. ALL KERALA SC/ST PETROLEUM DEALERS AND WORKERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTED BY PRESIDENT, REGISTERED OFFICE AT MOOSHIKAL VAZHITHALA.P.O, THODUPUZHA. BY ADV. SMT.P.K.SANTHAMMA SRI.M.T.MURALEEDHARAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE SECRETARY, OIL AND NATUAL GAS GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, SHASTHRI BAHVAN, NEW DELHI - 110001. 2. THE SECRETARY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, D 1029, NEW FRIENDS COLONY, NEW DELHI-110065. 3. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD., REPRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, 3079/3, TITO MARK SADIQ NAGAR, NEW DELHI-1100949. 4. THE SECRETARY, BHARATH PETROLEUM CO. LTD., 4 X 6 CURRIOMBHOY ROAD, BALLARD ESTATE, MUMBAI - 400001. 5. THE HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CO. LTD., REPRESENTED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, PETROLEUM HOUSE, 17, JAMSHEDJI TATA ROAD, MUMBAI - 400020. 6. THE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTE & SCHEDULED TRIBE, 5TH FLOOR, LOK NAIK BHAVAN, KHAN MARG, NEW DELHI-3. SHRI.E.K.NANDAKUMAR, SC SHRI.PARAMESWHARAN NAIR, A.S.G. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29/08/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.24133 of 2008 ================== Dated this the 29th day of August, 2008 J U D G M E N T The 1st petitioner is a dealer of petroleum products of the 4th respondent. The 2nd petitioner is an association of SC/ST petroleum dealers. Recognising the backward position of the SC/ST citizens in the society, the oil companies have been extending certain credit facilities to the SC/ST petroleum dealers, which, according to the petitioners, have now been withdrawn. They seek reinstatement of such facilities. 2. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondents 3 and 5 would submit that the credit facilities have not been withdrawn, but only the manner of payment has been changed. According to the petitioners, the change of manner of payment itself would work to the absolute prejudice of the SC/ST petroleum dealers. The petitioners submit that they have already filed Exts.P4 series and Ext.P5 series of representations both before the Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gases, as also to the oil companies. The petitioners seek 2 appropriate consideration of their grievances in the matter sympathetically. 3. I have heard the arguments of both sides. 4. Considering the vulnerable position of the SC/ST people as a whole in the country, I feel that they are to be treated specially with utmost sympathy. Therefore, I think that the Ministry and the oil companies should consider their grievances as sympathetically as possible. Accordingly, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to respondents 3, 4 and 5 to consider the grievances of the petitioners, as sympathetically as possible within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Till then, the facility which was available to them prior to the modification shall be continued to be extended to the petitioners. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge 3