HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. *** CWP No. 15679 of 2007. Date of Decision: September 19, 2008. *** J.K.Jain Versus Union of India and others. *** CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.S.Thakur, CJ and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant. *** Present: Shri Sanjeev S. Thakur, Advocate, for the petitioner. Shri Raman Sharma, Advocate, for respondents No. 2 to 4. Shri Harminder Singh, Advocate, for respondent No. 5. Shri Girish Agnihotri, Sr.Advocate, with Ms. Binayjeet Sheoran, Mr. Atul Nehra and Mr. Vijay Pal, Advocates, for respondent No.6. Shri Onkar Singh Batalvi, Advocate, for UOI. *** T.S.Thakur, CJ (Oral) This petition has been filed in public interest. It prays for a writ of prohibition or any other writ, direction or order directing respondents No. 1 to 6 to stop forthwith all its activities in the alleged COCO distributorship at Hisar, which according to the petitioner, is being run illegally and without any authority and is promoting large scale black-marketing and corruption. In response to a notice issued by this Court, respondents No.2 to 4 filed a counter affidavit statement denying the allegations made in the writ petition, and asserting that the so called -2- CWP No. 15679 of 2008. COCO distributorship was in fact an extension counter of respondent-Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, which has since been closed with effect from December 17, 2007 and replaced by a regular distributor in the name and style of HLRDC Bharat Gas. It is argued on behalf of the respondents that with the setting up of a regular distributor in Hisar, the alleged mal-practices have vanished and that no further inquiry or directions are called for as there is no allegation that the regular distributor is in any way indulging in any malpractice or irregularity. The petitioner has not disputed the assertions made on behalf of respondents, in so far as the same relates to appointment of a regular dealer, and the extension counter earlier set up by the company being closed. Even otherwise, there is no allegation that the system of distribution of domestic gas connections which the company has adopted through their distributors, suffers from any vice of illegality or is otherwise capable of an abuse. Be that as it may, since the company has appointed a regular dealer for the benefits of the customers in Hisar, we find no reasons to continue with the proceedings which has been filed in public interest. All that we need say is that despite the appointment of a regular distributor, if the petitioner has any grievance to make regarding the efficacy of the system, he shall be free to file a suitable representation to that effect before the Director (Marketing), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited or for that matter to the -3- CWP No. 15679 of 2008. Directors/Senior Regional Manager of the other two companies who are also arrayed as respondents in this case. In case any such representation is made by the petitioner, the Directors/Senior Regional Manager concerned shall look into the same and take remedial steps under intimation to the petitioner. With the above observation, the writ petition is disposed of with no costs. (T.S.THAKUR) CHIEF JUSTICE (SURYA KANT) JUDGE September 19, 2008 Malik