The Rajasthan High Court is now addressing the issue of alleged restrictions on petrol and diesel sales, as challenged by the Petroleum Dealers Distributors Transporters Welfare Association. The association has filed a civil writ petition against Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited for what they claim are arbitrary actions. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 25.
The association alleges that officials from these oil companies have been instructing petrol pump operators, both verbally and through WhatsApp messages, to limit the sale of petrol and diesel. They further claim that dealers were threatened with punitive measures, including suspension of fuel supply, if sales exceeded specified limits.
Senior advocate Rajesh Joshi and advocate Himanshu Ranjan Singh Bhati, representing the association, argued that petroleum products are essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. They emphasized that only the Central or state governments have the legal authority to regulate or restrict the production, distribution, or sale of such commodities through formal statutory notifications.
