JUDGMENT

Dated this the 12^th day of February, 2026

1. The Writ Petition as amended is filed by the Petitioner challenging Ext.P14 No Objection Certificate under Rule 144 of the Petroleum Rules , 2002, and Ext.P15 Order granting the said NOC by the Respondent No.4/Additional District Magistrate. The Respondent No.4 granted Ext.P14 No Objection Certificate to the Respondent No.10/Oil Marketing Company to enable the Respondent No.11 as its dealer for starting a Petroleum Retail Outlet in Resurvey Nos.484/12, 484/16-1 & 484/7 of Arpookara Village in Kottayam Taluk in Kottayam District.

2. The Respondent Nos.7 & 8 filed a Statement that since the averments in the Writ Petition pertain to the NOC issued by the Respondent No.4, Respondent Nos.7 & 8 have no role in it. The Respondent No.10 has filed a Counter Affidavit, and the Respondent No.11 has filed Counter Affidavit and Additional Counter Affidavit opposing the prayers in the Writ Petition.

3. I heard the learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Sri. Ananthakrishnan A. Kartha, the learned Counsel for the Respondent No.10, Sri. M. Gopikrishnan Nambiar, the learned Counsel for the Respondent No.11, Sri. Jossy Kurian, and the learned Senior Go