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NBK, J

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA

AT HYDERABAD

THE HON’ BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA

WRIT PETITION No.15910 of 2024

29^thJanuary, 2026

Between:

Mandava Sanjay, S/o Mandava Shankar

… Petitioner

AND

1. Union of India, represented by its Secretary,

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP & NG),

Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi – 110001, and others

… Respondents

ORDER:

The respondents issued an Advertisement on 14.12.2018, categorizing

the Retail Outlet dealership at Jagannathpur, Narayankhed Mandal,

Sangareddy District under the Scheduled Caste Rural Quota, Sl No. 206.

The petitioner-Mandava Sanjay asserts that this categorization was made

without any prior survey or verification of the proposed construction of

National Highway 161-B in the area, constituting an oversight by the

respondents. Acting in reliance on this advertisement, the petitioner applied

for and was selected for the dealership, as confirmed by the selection letter

dated 09.02.2023, having submitted all requisite documents, including a

land lease for the proposed outlet. However, on 16.12.2023, the respondents

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issued a letter rejecting the petitioner’s land, stating it “does not meet

criteria as per advertisement” and reclassifying his candidature to Group-3.

1.1 Following this decision, the petitioner submitted a

representation on 06.01.2024 requesting that his candidature be restored to

Group-1. The respondents, by letter dated 20.01.2024, rejectedthe request of

the petitioner, and asserted that such restoration was “impossible per the

rules.” The petitioner asserts that it is solely the oversight of the respondent-

authorities in advertising the dealership under the Rural category, without

conducting a survey to verify land eligibility, and the petitioner cannot be

put to disadvantage due to oversight of respondents, and the petitioner is

prepared to submit an alternative land lease document that does not abut

National Highway 161B, demonstrating his willingness to fulfill the

necessary requirements.

1.2 The petitioner alleges unlawful and discriminatory

administrative action by the respondents concerning his application for a

Retail Outlet (R.O.) dealership with Indian Oil Corporation Limited, as the

respondents, through their letter dated 16.12.2023, shifted his candidature

from Group-1 to Group-3, claiming that the land he offered abuts National

Highway 161B, which is contradictory to the respondents’ own

advertisement dated 14.12.2018, which listed the Jagannathpur R.O.

dealership under Sl No. 206 as a Rural opportunity specifically reserved for

Scheduled Caste applicants. The petitioner seeks restoration of his original

Group-1 status for the Jagannathpur R.O. dealership, and seeks an

opportunity to submit alternative land documents.

2. A counter affidavit is filed by the respondents, essentially contending

that the process for allocation of the Rural R.O. dealership at Jagannathpur,

Narayankhed Mandal, Sangareddy District (Sl. No. 206), commenced with a

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public notification dated 14.12.2018. The petitioner applied for this Rural

category outlet, and following the draw of lots, he was selected, receiving

intimation by email on 09.02.2023. Subsequently, upon completion of

document scrutiny, the Land Evaluation Committee (LEC) conducted an on-

site inspection, communicated via email on 25.09.2023, during which the

LEC found that the petitioner’s land abutted National Highway 161B. As

per Clause 1(ii) of the Guidelines, Rural locations cannot be situated on

highways or within municipal limits, and therefore the petitioner’s land

failed to meet the prescribed specifications. Accordingly, his candidature

was moved to Group-3, and the cancellation was formally communicated by

letter dated 16.12.2023.

2.1 It is stated that the petitioner submitted a representation on

11.01.2024 requesting restoration to Group-1; however, the respondents

replied on 20.01.2023 that such a request could not be acc