JUDGMENT

K.G. Balakrishnan, J.-Leave granted.

2. These three appeals, filed by Updesh Kumar, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Prithvi Singh respectively, arise out of a common judgment passed in R.S.A. No. 632 of 1999 and R.S.A. No. 3268 of 1999 by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh. The dispute in all these appeals relates to the allotment of a retail outlet dealership by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

3. The facts of the case, in brief, are thus. Indian Oil Corporation Limited, on 21.1.1987, invited applications from physically handicapped persons/Govt. employees, who became disabled while on duty (excluding Defence personnel), for allotment of a retail outlet dealership in Faridabad district. One of the conditions of eligibility was that the applicant should not be less than 21 years and more than 50 years of age as on the date of application. The Oil Selection Board conducted interviews of the eligible candidates. Prithvi Singh (appellant in the civil appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 5283/2000), was found eligible for allotment of the retail outlet. The second eligible candidate was one Mamta Rani while Updesh Kumar, the appellant in the civil appeal arisin