IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 23.02.2026 M/s Signpost India Limited through its Authorized Signatory ....Petitioner Vs.

Union Territory, Chandigarh and others ....Respondents CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSH BUNGER Present: Mr. Rajesh K. Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Deepali Puri, Advocate and Mr. Sanjeev Ghai, Advocate for respondents No.2 & 3.

Mr. Ashish Kapoor, Advocate for respondent No.4.

Mr. Arnav Sharma, Advocate for Mr. Raman Sharma, Advocate for respondents No.5 & 6.

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HARSH BUNGER J. (Oral)

1 Petition herein is, inter alia, seeking a writ in the nature of Certiorari, for setting aside the order dated 12.01.2026 (Annexure P-1) issued by respondent No.3 whereby the request of the petitioner for extension of permission for display of advertisements at four petrol pump sites has been rejected.

2. Briefly, the petitioner is stated to be a Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) enterprise. It is stated that respondent No.4 – Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) had invited electronic bids through a formal, competitive tender process for providing ‘LED Digital Hoardings at IOC Retail outlets on signage fee basis for a period of 5 years’ which included one package for U.T., Chandigarh. The petitioner is stated to have participated in the competitive bidding process for the aforesaid package for U.T., Chandigarh and emerged as a successful bidder, whereupon, a formal letter of acceptance dated 08.12.2023 (Annexure P-4) was issued by the respondent No.4 - Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), wherein petitioner’s offer for a total value of Rs.15,33,56,159.47/- was accepted and the petitioner was directed to execute the agreement and complete the other formalities.

3. It is submitted that even respondent No.5 – Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) invited electronic bids through a formal tender process for ‘installation and operation of LED Digital Hoardings at BPCL Retail Outlets’ for U.T., Chandigarh, wherein also, the petitioner emerged as the successful bidder and formal letter of intent/acceptance dated 15.01.2024 (Annexure P-6) was issued, and petitioner’s bid of Rs.11,97,04,220/- was accepted.

4. Similarly, it is stated that, even respondent No.6 – Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) invited electronic bids through a formal competitive tender process for ‘providing LED Digital Hoardings at HPCL Retail Outlets’ for U.T., Chandigarh, wherein also, the petitioner emerged as the successful bidder and formal letter of intent dated 03.01.2024 (Annexure P-8) was issued.

5. It is next submitted that on the basis of the aforesaid letters of acceptance dated 08.12.2023 (Annexure P-4); dated 15.01.2024 (Annexure P-6) and dated 03.01.2024 (Annexure P-8), the petitioner is stated to have approached the respondent No.2 - Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh seeking requisite permissions for the specified sites, whereupon, respondent No.2 - Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh accorded its formal approval vide its memo dated 04.07.2024 (Annexure P-9), whereby, the permission was granted only for a period of one year. The petitioner is stated to have submitted the requisite amount in furtherance to the aforesaid memo dated 04.07.2024 (Annexure P-9). It is stated that although in terms of the tenders allotted by the Oil Coporations, the period envisaged was 5 years, however, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh had granted approval/permission only for one year and now vide the impugned order dated 12.01.2026 (Annexure P-1), the request made by the petitioner for grant of permission for display of advertisements has been declined, hence, in view of the aforementioned circumstances, present petition has been filed before this Court, for seeking relief(s) as noted hereinabove.

6. Heard.

7. The impugned letters/order dated 12.01.2026 (Annexure P-1), reads as under:-

“Reference:Your letter dated 15.12.2025 and 24.12.2025.

This is to formally inform you that no further permission is granted for the d