HC admits PEL on LPG insufficiency
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10 2017:
A Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur has directed the State Government, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and gas agencies of Manipur to submit replies returnable within six weeks with regard to a PIL filed at the Court.
The public interest litigation filed by petitioner Prasanta Oinam through his counsel, former Advocate General Th Ibohal, was listed today before the Division Bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin against the State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, Commissioner, Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Director, Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Union of India represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, IOC Manipur Branch represented by Deputy General Manager, bulk LPG transporters C/O IOC Manipur Deputy
General, M/S Canchi Indane, M/S MM Gas Service, M/S Misao Gas Service, M/S KK Gas Service, M/S Jemon Gas Service, M/S Yairipok Gas Service and M/S Maibia Gas Service as respondents.
The Court heard the submission of the petitioner's counsels in length, who submitted that in Manipur, the supply and distribution of the domestic LPG refills, at present, is controlled and managed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), a Government oil company under section 2 (g) of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of supply and distribution) order passed in the year 2000 .
In 2014, to the consumers' relief, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, revised the cap/ limit of subsidised LPG refills to 11 numbers for the year ending on March 31 and further with 12 numbers of subsidised LPG gas refills per annum with effect from April 1 the same year.
It further submitted that subsidised LPG refills for domestic cooking purposes is available in 14.2 kilograms capacity cylinders and is distributed only through authorised LPG distributors of IOCL.
It mentioned that in Manipur, the decision of the Central Government never came into reality as the concerned authorities responsible for sorting out scarcity of LPG gas by providing minimum numbers of LPG refills through authorised LPG distributors are playing a blame game and remained idle without taking any responsibilities on their parts.
On the other hand, LPG refills are readily available in the black market at a relatively higher price throughout the year.
The price of subsidised LPG refill is Rs 483.50 and that of non-subsidised LPG refill is Rs 862, which are sold at the range of around Rs 1500 to 3000 in the black market.
The counsel further submitted that failure to supply the minimum required LPG gas refills directly affected the economy of the concerned families and expressed shock at the abundant availability of subsidised LPG refills in the black market which shows that the domestic LPG refills entitled to the people are being diverted to the black markets by the respondents.
LPG refills, being highly inflammable, are required to be delivered at the consumers' doorsteps by the distributors as per the order, however no such actions have been performed by the respondents, it added.
It also submitted that the LPG agencies/ distributors provided the LPG gas cylinders four months and a half after the booking and demanded a CBI inquiry regarding the matter.
After hearing the submission, the Division Bench admitted the PIL and issued notice returnable within six weeks to the Government respondents and others for the hearing of the PIL as to why the distributors/ agencies have failed to provide adequate LPG refills in the State.