IOC DGM appears before Court
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 22 2017:
Deputy General Manager of Indian Oil Corporation, Imphal Division appeared before a Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur today, in accordance to a directive issued by the Court in connection with a PIL about supply and distribution of LPG refills and scarcity of refills in the State .
The Division Bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Kh Nobin Singh had directed the Dy General Manager of IOC to appear personally before the Court after any representative from IOC failed to appear before the Court on two previous occasions regarding the PIL, including yesterday.
The petitioner's counsel Th Deepak submitted that as per a report submitted by private gas agencies of the State and LPG bulk transporters association, the gas agencies can provide only five to six LPG refills to consumers, far below the entitled share of 12 refills in a year due to insufficient supply of LPG refills by IOC .
The petitioner’s counsel prayed before the Bench for a report as to why IOC is not able to provide the entitled share of gas refills to the consumers .
On the other hand, the IOC' counsel prayed that they would file a counter affidavit before the Court on or before the next date of hearing.
After hearing the submissions of the petitioner and the respondents' counsel, the Division Bench listed the matter for hearing on January 19, next year .
It may be mentioned that Prasanta Oinam, through his counsel, filed the PIL regarding the supply and distribution of LPG refills and scarcity of LPG against the State of Manipur, represented by Chief Secretary, Commissioner Consumer Food Affairs and Distribution, Union of India represented by Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, private gas agencies and the LPG Bulk Transporter Association as respondent.
The PIL was admitted by the Division Bench on November 10 following which the respondents were directed submit a reply within six weeks time.