HC asks Centre, oil PSUs to consider giving quota for kerosene dealers
10 Jan 2014 11:49 PM GMT
The kerosene dealers have moved the high court saying under the government’s move to switch from kerosene to LPG, they have lost their livelihood and therefore, should be given preference in giving LPG distributorship.
Justice Manmohan on Thursday asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd to consider giving at least ten per cent quota to the Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) dealers while inviting bids for LPG distributorship.
‘Consider giving some quota... at least 15-20 per cent or ten per cent. This (Kerosene dealers) is a separate class in itself. Of course they will have to comply with the norms and get through the lottery system but give them quota,’ Justice Manmohan said while hearing a petition filed by the Petroleum Dealers Association through advocate Shashi Shanker.
The Delhi government was also impleaded as a party and the bench gave all the respondents six weeks’ time to hold a meeting and decide the issue ‘expeditiously’.
During the arguments, senior advocate AS Chandiok submitted for the petitioners that the government brought the scheme to make Delhi ‘Kerosene-free’ and came up with ‘Vision 2015’ for increasing LPG connections to 5.5 crore till 2015 and a complete switchover from kerosene to LPG.
‘For this the government and oil companies are giving LPG distributorship. I am not saying the ‘Kerosene-free’ scheme is bad. My question is that if a policy of the state deprives me of my livelihood, should it not give me an alternate source of income,’ Chandiok submitted.
Cabinet approves repealing of Delhi Hotels Act
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to repeal an archaic law which empowers the government to force bookings in hotels in the national capital. ‘The Cabinet today approved it and now the legislative measures will follow. Parliament will repeal it,’ information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewary said here after the Cabinet meeting. The Administration of Delhi Hotels (Control of Accommodation Act) 1949 allowed the Urban Development Ministry to force hotels to provide rooms to it when demanded. The law was needed to be discarded as there was no need for it now since the government has sufficient number of accommodations in the city like state guest houses. Also, following proliferation of guest houses and economy hotels, booking a room is not difficult now.
Justice Manmohan on Thursday asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd to consider giving at least ten per cent quota to the Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) dealers while inviting bids for LPG distributorship.
‘Consider giving some quota... at least 15-20 per cent or ten per cent. This (Kerosene dealers) is a separate class in itself. Of course they will have to comply with the norms and get through the lottery system but give them quota,’ Justice Manmohan said while hearing a petition filed by the Petroleum Dealers Association through advocate Shashi Shanker.
The Delhi government was also impleaded as a party and the bench gave all the respondents six weeks’ time to hold a meeting and decide the issue ‘expeditiously’.
During the arguments, senior advocate AS Chandiok submitted for the petitioners that the government brought the scheme to make Delhi ‘Kerosene-free’ and came up with ‘Vision 2015’ for increasing LPG connections to 5.5 crore till 2015 and a complete switchover from kerosene to LPG.
‘For this the government and oil companies are giving LPG distributorship. I am not saying the ‘Kerosene-free’ scheme is bad. My question is that if a policy of the state deprives me of my livelihood, should it not give me an alternate source of income,’ Chandiok submitted.
Cabinet approves repealing of Delhi Hotels Act
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to repeal an archaic law which empowers the government to force bookings in hotels in the national capital. ‘The Cabinet today approved it and now the legislative measures will follow. Parliament will repeal it,’ information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewary said here after the Cabinet meeting. The Administration of Delhi Hotels (Control of Accommodation Act) 1949 allowed the Urban Development Ministry to force hotels to provide rooms to it when demanded. The law was needed to be discarded as there was no need for it now since the government has sufficient number of accommodations in the city like state guest houses. Also, following proliferation of guest houses and economy hotels, booking a room is not difficult now.
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