Lok Sabha Question No. 3516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Complaints Regarding Officials of HPCL
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Hemant Patil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3516 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH 2020

## Complaints Regarding Officials of HPCL

3516.   SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATEL:

SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased state:

- (a)    whether  the  Ministry  has  come  across  the  cases  of  corrupt  practices  and indecent behaviour by officials of Oil PSU like HPCL and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   the details of the complaints received by the Ministry regarding officials of HPCL posted in Maharashtra indulging in corrupt practices with the letter of intent holders who have been allotted petrol pumps;
- (c) the details of the action taken against officials indulging in corrupt practices in the last three years, State/UT-wise particularly in the State of Maharashtra; and
- (d) the  steps  taken by  the  Government to remove red tapism and expedite the approval for setting up of petrol pumps once letter of intent is issued?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में मंत्री ( प्रााप्र ामेर्मध ीी )

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (c): Details  of  cases/complaints  of  corrupt  practices  by  officials  of  HPCL and action taken against such officials (State/UT-wise including Maharashtra) during the last three years is at Annexure.
- (d) Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies have freedom in the selection process of dealers/distributors for retail outlets/LPG distributorships.

Oil Marketing Companies conduct meetings with LOI holders for helping them to understand the process, every State office/territory conduct induction-cum-training programmes for LOI holders on the various steps to set up ROs. After issue of LOI and  complying  with  necessary  conditions  by  the  LOI  holders,  all  the  requisite processes on the part of OMCs are monitored at the State Office/Head Office levels.

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## ANNEXURE

## DETAILS OF COMPLAINTS/CASES AND ACTION TAKEN AGAINST OFFICIALS ALLEGEDLY INDULGING IN CORRUPT PRACTICES (STATE/UT-WISE) PARTICULARLY IN THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA PERTAINING TO HPCL

|   Sl. No. | Year    | State                      | No of officials   | Nature of case                                         | Action Taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-----------|---------|----------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2016-17 | Gujarat                    | 01                | Illegal gratification                                  | 2 nd Stage approval accorded for termination of employee                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|         2 | 2016-17 | Rajasthan                  | 02                | Illegal gratification                                  | Dismissal from service                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|         3 | 2016-17 | Jharkhand Himachal Pradesh | 02 02             | Diversion of product                                   | Jharkhand In one case, official transferred to non- sensitive position. In another case, major penalty of demotion from Salary Grade 'D' to Salary Grade 'B' imposed. Himachal Pradesh In both the cases the employees have been suspended. |
|         4 | 2016-17 | Jharkhand                  | 02                | Misappropriation of funds                              | In one case the employee has been suspended. In another case the employee has been suspended.                                                                                                                                               |
|         5 | 2017-18 | Karnataka                  | 01                | Diversion of product                                   | Inquiry instituted                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|         6 | 2017-18 | Tamil Nadu                 | 02                | Violation of procedures in procurement/work contracts  | Inquiry instituted                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|         7 | 2018-19 | Maharashtra                | 01                | Borrowing of funds from employees/stake holders        | Inquiry instituted                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|         8 | 2019-20 | Maharashtra                | 01                | Violation of procedures in procurement/works contracts | Inquiry instituted                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |