IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN MONDAY, THE 10TH JANUARY 2011 / 20TH POUSHA 1932 WP(C).No. 9595 of 2010(Y) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- C.S.THILAKAN,S/O.SUDHAKARAN,CHETTUPUZHA HOUSE,KOZHIKKADA,PO PULLUT,KODUNGALUR WORKING AS THE SECRETARY,APPLICANTS AND CONSUMERS FORUM REG.NO.526/96 LAKSHMI WATCH HOUSE, EAST NADA, KODUNGALLUR,THRISSUR. BY ADV. SRI.M.SHAJU PURUSHOTHAMAN SRI.K.S.RAJESH RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD, NEW DELHI REP.BY ITS CHAIRMAN. 2. THE GENERAL MANAGER, INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD., KERALA STATE OFFICE, PANAMPILLY AVENUE,PANAMPILLY NAGAR,KOCHI. 3. THE SENIOR AREA MANAGER, INDIA OIL CORPORATION LTD., AREA OFFICE,2ND FLOOR, PMK TOWERS, CIVIL STATION POST, WAYANAD ROAD, KOZHIKODE. ADV. SRI.E.K.NANDAKUMAR FOR R3 SRI.A.K.JAYASANKAR NAMBIAR FOR R3 SRI.K.JOHN MATHAI FOR R3 SRI.P.BENNY THOMAS FOR R3 SRI.P.GOPINATH FOR R3 SRI.V.J.ANAND FOR R3 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 10/01/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P(C)No.9595/2010 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1. TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DT. 22.8.2005 SUBMITTED BEFORE THE HON.MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS EXT.P2. TUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DT. 8.9.2009 SUBMITTED BEFORE THE HON.MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS EXT.P3. TUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 17.9.2009 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P4. TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT. 18.11.2009 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P5. TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY TO THE LAWYER NOTICE DT. 8.2.2010 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT. / TRUE COPY / P.S.TO JUDGE P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ----------------------------------------- W.P(C).No.9595 of 2010 ----------------------------------------- Dated this the 10th day of January, 2011 JUDGMENT The petitioner is the Secretary of a consumer association formed with the object of eliminating unfair trade practices by the traders and service providers. The petitioner submits that consumers of LPG in Kodungallur are facing great hardship in view of the fact that the existing dealer is unable to cater to the needs of about 28,000 consumers. The petitioner submits that in such circumstances representations were submitted to the Indian Oil Corporation and its officers to appoint another dealer. In this writ petition the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondents to appoint a new LPG distributor at Kodungallur in addition to the existing distributor. The petitioner submits relying on Ext.P5 letter sent by the 3rd respondent that though the Indian Oil Corporation and its officers are willing to have a new distributorship at Kodungallur, a decision in that regard was not taken in view of the pendency of W.P(C)No.21283 of 2009 filed by a candidate who had applied for appointment as LPG distributor at Kodungallur. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner W.P(C).No.9595 of 2010 -:2:- submitted that the said writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn on 6.1.2011 and that in such circumstances the respondents may be directed to take steps to appoint an additional LPG distributor at Kodungallur expeditiously. 2. Sri.E.K.Nandakumar, learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents, submitted that the respondents have taken steps to appoint another LPG distributor at Kodungallur and that it was kept pending in view of the pendency of W.P(C)No.21283 of 2009. The learned standing counsel further submitted that in view of the fact that W.P(C)No.21283 of 2009 stands dismissed as withdrawn, the respondents will take steps to finalise the selection process and to appoint a distributor at the earliest. In the light of the said submission I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the competent authority among the respondents to finalise the selection process and to appoint an additional LPG distributor at Kodungallur expeditiously and in any event within four months from today. P.N.RAVINDRAN, Judge. ahg. P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P(C).No.9595 of 2010 ---------------------------- JUDGMENT 10th January, 2011