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2013 Supreme(Raj) 1269

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Govind Mathur, Banwari Lal Sharma, JJ.
Neeraj Kachhawaha - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan & Ors. - Respondent
D.B. Special Appeal (Writ) No. 159 of 2013.
Decided On : 10-05-2013

Advocates:
For the Petitioner-Appellant:M.C. Bhoot, Senior Advocate, assisted by D.S. Beniwal, Advocate.
For the Respondent No. 9:M.S. Singhvi, Senior Advocate, assisted by S.G. Ojha, Advocate.
For the Respondent Nos. 4 and 5:I.S. Pareek, Advocate.
For the Respondent Nos. 7 and 8:Sunil Beniwal, Advocate.
For the Respondent No. 5:Mukul Singhvi, Advocate.

A "No Objection Certificate" issued by the competent authority after due inquiry and in accordance with the prescribed guidelines cannot be challenged unless the petitioner demonstrates a specific injury or violation of legal rights.

Headnote:

NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE - IRC GUIDELINES - IRC-2009 - 4.6.3, 4.6.4 - SUMMARY

Fact of the Case:

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. proposed to establish a retail outlet dealership at Mandalnath Bypass Road, Jodhpur. The petitioner, who operates a nearby petrol pump, objected, claiming that it would violate fuel station establishment norms. The High Court had earlier directed the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to adhere to IRC-2009 guidelines while establishing the outlet.

Finding of the Court:

The High Court found that the Police Commissionerate, Jodhpur, had conducted a thorough inquiry before issuing the "No Objection Certificate" and imposed conditions to ensure adherence to IRC-2009 guidelines. The court held that if any violation of these conditions occurred, the certificate could be canceled.

Issues: 1. Whether the petitioner had the right to challenge the "No Objection Certificate" issued by the Commissioner of Police, Jodhpur. 2. Whether the "No Objection Certificate" was issued in violation of IRC-2009 guidelines.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the petitioner failed to establish his right to challenge the "No Objection Certificate" as he had not demonstrated any specific injury or violation of his legal rights. 2. The court found that the Police Commissionerate had taken all necessary steps to ensure compliance with IRC-2009 guidelines and had imposed conditions to prevent any violation. The court held that the "No Objection Certificate" was issued in accordance with the law.

Final Decision: The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the judgment of the Single Bench and refusing to interfere with the "No Objection Certificate" issued by the Police Commissionerate, Jodhpur.

JUDGMENT

1. - This special appeal is directed to challenge the judgment dated 21.3.2013 passed by learned Single Bench in SB Civil Writ Petition No.11986/2012.

2. Respondent Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. proposed to establish its retail outlet dealership at location Mandalnath Bypass Road (Kaliberi Mod to Mandalnath Railway Crossing) in revenue district Jodhpur. An application was submitted by respondent Smt. Kiran Meghwal to have such retail outlet dealership and that was awarded to her as per letter dated 20.11.2010 (Anx.1). The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. under letter dated 01.10.2010 requested the District Magistrate, Jodhpur to issue a "No Objection Certificate" in the name of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. for putting of retail outlet at the site concerned. Suffice to mention here that a "No Objection Certificate" pertaining to same site was earlier given in favour of M/s ESSAR Oil Company.

3. The petitioner-appellant, who is operating a retail outlet (petrol pump) of Indian Oil Corporation at Paldi Khichiyan, District Jodhpur, by submitting a representation objected the claim made by respondent Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to have "No Objection Certificate". A petition for writ (SB Civil Writ Petition No.1026/2011) was preferred by him before this Court with assertion that establishing a retail outlet on the land adjacent to the outlet where petitioner-appellant's petrol pump is already working shall be in gross violation of the norms laid down for establishment of fuel station, service station etc.

4. The writ petition aforesaid came to be disposed of by an order dated 2.1.2012 with a direction to respondent Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. in the terms that the fuel station shall be established at the location proposed strictly adhering to the conditions laid down under clause 4.4.3 and 4.4.4 of the guidelines issued by the State Government after obtaining "No Objection Certificate" from the competent authority in accordance with law. By acceptance of a review petition, the clauses 4.4.3 and 4.4.4 were substituted by 4.6.3 and 4.6.4 of the Indian Road Congress guidelines for access location and lay out of road side fuel station and service station under IRC-2009. Clause 4.6.3 and 4.6.4 of that reads as under:-

"4.6.3 - If two or more fuel stations are to be sited in close proximity for some reasons, these would be grouped together to have a common access through a service road of 7.0 m width and connected to the highway through acceleration, deceleration lanes. From these considerations, the permission for the new fuel stations would be considered only if it is either in proximity to the existing one so that the common access can be provided or the new one located at distance of more than 1000 m. Any objection from the existing fuel station owner against granting of access permission from the highway for the proposed new fuel station are to be overruled and access to all fuel stations in case of clustering, shall invariably be from the service road only.

4.6.4 - For installation of new fuel station within the 1000 m or 300 m distance of existing fuel station as the case may be, new entrant would be responsible for construction and maintenance of the common service road, deceleration and acceleration lanes, drainage and traffic control devices. Wherever, available ROW is inadequate to accommodate such service roads, deceleration/acceleration lanes, etc. the additional land by the side of ROW to accommodate such service roads shall also be acquired by the new entrant Oil Company. In case of billy/mountainous terrain, common service roads at all such locations may not be possible as per the site conditions and, therefore, common access through service roads would not be a precondition."

5. After disposal of the writ petition, a "No Objection Certificate" dated 4.9.2012 was given by the office of the Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Jodhpur. The "No Objection Certificate" was subject to following conditi























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