Srinagar, Mar 26: The J&K High Court Tuesday directed the central and state governments to respond within 16 days to its notice issued in a petition seeking cancellation of the government decision to set up 632 petrol outlets in the state.
After failing to file compliance by 26th of March, the court at the request of the state lawyers directed the government respond in the matter within 16 days.
In a public interest petition praying a direction to the central and state governments for quashing the decision of the authorities to set up 632 petrol pumps in the state, the petitioners pleaded before the High Court for restraining the authorities from proceeding ahead in the matter.
It also solicited that all the deputy commissioners of the state be held back from granting any kind of permission or ‘NOC’ for establishment of the new retail petrol outlets.
The court in February had issued notice to Ministry of Petroleum, public sector petroleum industries, Commissioner Secretary Revenue and deputy commissioners of all the districts of the state.
Advocate Zaffar Alam Shah submitted before the court that the authorities have not made any survey before taking the decision nor have followed the norms, procedures or guidelines as framed from time to time for setting up of new petrol outlets.
The central government has decided to set up new 65,000 petrol outlets across the country out of which 632 are being set up in J&K for which advertisement notices have been issued and published in the month of November 2018.
The court was informed by the petitioners that the decision of the authorities is against the interests of the state, its subjects, and environment. It shall have dreadful affects on horticulture and agriculture sectors of the state, they said.
