THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE B. SUDERSHAN REDDY WRIT PETITION No.12811 of 2001 DATE:11-08-2005 Between: V. Vijay Kumar S/o. late V P Rayudu, aged 34 years, R/o.23/501, Fateh Khanpet, Nellore District. ..... PETITIONER AND The Dealers Selection Board, Vijayawada-II Rep. by its Chairman, C/o. HPCL, Tadepalli Installation, Guntur 522 501 & 4 others. .....RESPONDENTS THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE B. SUDERSHAN REDDY W.P. No.12811 OF 2001 ORDER: The Selection Board of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited having considered the applications of the eligible candidates including the petitioner and the 5th respondent herein, found the 5th respondent to be more meritorious and accordingly selected. The petitioner’s assertion that he is more meritorious in comparison to the 5th respondent remains to be an assertion and there is no reason to differ with the view taken by the Selection Board in making assessment of relative merits of the petitioner and the 5th respondent. It is further contended that the 5th respondent is not a resident of Nellore District, and therefore, no preference could have been given to him for the purpose of selection. In the counter affidavit, it is clearly explained that in terms of the guidelines, the candidates residing in the districts of Nellore, Prakasham, Chittoor and Kadapa are eligible to apply for award of the dealership and it is only in the event of all other things being equal, preference will be given to the candidate belonging to the revenue district in which the notified dealership is to be established. That question, at any rate, does not survive, in view of the conclusion reached by the Selection Board that the 5th respondent was found to be most meritorious candidate. I find no merit in this Writ Petition and the same shall accordingly stand dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. ___________________________ B. SUDERSHAN REDDY, J Date:11-08-2005. PV