IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA LPA No.533 of 2009 SARIKA KUMARI, wife of Pravin Kumar, resident of Nayatola, Ward no. 12, Purani Bazar, District Lakhisarai Versus 1. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD, through its General Manager, 5th Floor, Loknayak Jaiprakash Bhawan, Fraser Road, Patna 2. General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Loknayak Jaiprakash Bhawan, Fraser Road, Patna 3. Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Govt. of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 4. Director, Sales Marketing, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Indian Oil Bhawan, G9, Ali Yakargunj Marg, Bandra (East) Mumbai, 400051 5. Senior Divisional Retail Sales Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. Begusarai Divisional Office, 8-70, Barauni Refinery Township District Begusarai ----------- For the appellants: Mr. Chitranjan Sinha, Sr. Advocate Mr. Partha Sharthi, advocate For the respondent: Mr. Kali Das Chatterji, advocate Mr. Amlesh Kumar Veram, advocate ------------- 3 10-07-2009 Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. We are in agreement with the views of the writ court that eligibility criteria in the advertisement could not have been relaxed even at the initial stage to enter into any kind of dialogue and negotiation with the writ petitioner. Such power if conceded to the Corporation would be in teeth of Article 14 of Constitution of India. We find no good reason to take a different view in the matter. The appeal is, therefore, dismissed. BKS/- (Shiva Kirti Singh, ACJ.) (Anjana Prakash, J.)