JUDGMENT :

ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With the consent of parties, heard finally.

2. By the present writ petition, the petitioner is challenging the communications dated 6th October, 2021 and 25th October, 2021 issued by respondent No. 3 – Head of the Regional Office (Retail), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Nashik, rejecting the application of the petitioner for allotment of retail outlet dealership of respondent No. 2 – Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

3. By advertisement dated 25.11.2018, respondent No. 3 sought applications for appointment of dealers of retail outlet for various locations. At Sr. No. 786 of the said advertisement ‘village Patonda, on NH-753-B’ taluka Nandurbar is advertised. In response to the above advertisement, seven applications were received by respondent No. 3.

4. The petitioner filed his application on 21.12.2018 from Group-2 and offered land bearing Survey No. 19/2/B of village Dharajgaon for the retail outlet. It is the case of the petitioner that the respondent No. 3 sent e-mail to the petitioner on 9th January, 2020 and directed the petitioner to submit documents in respect of land offered by him. In response to