JUDGMENT :

MANISH CHOUDHURY, J.

1. By this writ petition, the petitioner invoking the extra-ordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has assailed the decision of the respondent authorities in Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) whereby they have selected and appointed the respondent no. 3 for the dealership of a Regular/Rural Retail Outlet (Petrol Pump) at a location advertised as ‘Within 5 KMs from Numaligarh Tiniali on RHS of NH-37 (old) while moving from Numaligarh towards Dergaon’ and also for a direction to issue a Letter of Intent in favour of the petitioner for the dealership of the said Regular/Rural Retail Outlet (Petrol Pump).

2. The background facts which are not in dispute, can be narrated, in brief, as follows:

2.1. By a notice published in the daily English newspaper ‘The Assam Tribune’ in its issue dated 25.11.2018, applications were invited by the respondent IOCL for appointment of retail outlet dealers at various locations in the State of Assam. It was mentioned that the applications for the retail outlets along with online payment of