Govt rations diesel sales at retail outlets
Here's a policy move that signals real stress in the system. The government has rationed diesel sales, capping retail outlets at two hundred litres of diesel per person per day, and barring bulk industrial and commercial users from buying at ordinary fuel pumps. The order, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under the Essential Commodities Act, is meant to stop hoarding and black marketing as oil supplies tighten because of the Iran conflict. So for your CLAT prep, just remember rationing of essential goods is backed by the Essential Commodities Act, and energy shortages can trigger these supply controls.
In a significant development, the government has said that a retail fuel outlet can sell up to 200 litres ofdieselper person in a day.
Besides, industrial and commercial users of diesel, also called bulk users cannot purchase petrol and diesel from retail outlets (ROs).
“Institutional & Direct or InduFstrial & Commercial customers shall not procure or cause to be procured MS and/or HSD from Retail Outlets and shall only source their MS/HSD requirements from their own consumer pumps. Retail outlet dealers shall dispense HSD only in a vehicle tanks, or PESO-approved containers, and not exceeding 200 litres in a day to a customer/vehicle and this HSD cannot be resold,” said a government notification.
Oil marketing companies and retail outlet dealers shall ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed under Section 3 and prevent its circumvention. Any order issued under this provision can be issued only for an initial validity period not exceeding 90 days from the date of issue or till revoked by another order, whichever is earlier, it added.
Further, if the order is not revoked, prior to its expiry, then for it to remain in force beyond the initial period, it shall have to be extended by another order, and it shall remain valid for a period as may be prescribed in the extension order, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) said in the notification.
In directions to states and union territories, the Ministry said states and UTs shall take all necessary measures to implement this order, including action against hoarding, black marketing, unauthorised procurement, diversion and other malpractices relating to Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005 and other applicable laws.
Any Gazetted officer of the Central Government or a State Government or any police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police duly authorised, by general or special order of the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be, or any officer of the oil company, not below the rank of sales officer, may, with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of this Order, shall have the powers of search and seizure assigned to it in the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005.