M. Katju, J.This writ petition has been filed for a writ of certiorari calling for the entire record in respect of allotment of retail outlet situated at Waheed Nagar, district Sant Ravidas Nagar and for quashing the entire selection process.

2. The petitioner has also prayed for a mandamus directing the respondent not to interfere in the running of the retail outlet situated at Waheed Nagar, district Sant Ravidas Nagar by the petitioner. The petitioner further prayed that the respondents be directed not to issue any letter of intent in favour of respondent No. 4 or any of the other empanelled candidates.

3. It is alleged by the petitioner that the Government, of India had taken a policy decision by which it allowed parallel marketing In petroleum and its products and the market was opened up for private entrepreneurs, and thus the monopoly which was being exercised by the four oil companies, namely. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, I.B.P. and Hindustan Petroleum, was ended. After opening up of the petroleum market in the country, there was stiff competition with the aforesaid four Government owned oil companies. It is alleged in para 4 of the writ petition that with a view to steal a march over the private entrepreneurs, the aforesaid four Government owned oil companies embarked upon a dubious but novel method of capturing the best commercial sites for installation of the retail outlets. In its exercise, the officials of the Indian Oil Corporation were scouting for an appropriate land for setting up a retail outlet at the main crossing at Waheed Nagar in district Sant Ravidas Nagar on the main G.T. Road running between Allahabad to Varanasi. The most suitable commercial sites at the aforesaid crossing belonged to the father-in-law of the petitioner with his brothers. The officials of the Corporation approached the father-in-law of the petitioner, namely. Prakash Nath Misra and tried to lure him into selling a portion of his land situated at Waheed Nagar crossing to the Corporation and in the alternative, to lease it out for a period of 30 years. The father-in-law of the petitioner refused to do so since the price offered was miserably low and also the monthly lease rent was only about Rs. 8,000. The petitioner, a gullible villager could barely make his two ends meet and had to support a large family including three daughters. The petitioner cannot read or understand the English language. It is alleged that the officials of the Corporation promised to lease out the retail outlet in exchange for the aforesaid land and induced the petitioner to some how talk to his father-in-law into leasing out an area of 1401.50 square meters of the land to the Corporation. The father-in-law of the petitioner knew the plight of the petitioner very well and thus to enable the petitioner to make a decent living, agreed to lease out the aforesaid portion of the land to the Corporation even though the terms were highly unfair and arbitrary. A lease deed was executed on 25.8.2000, by Prakash Nath and his three brothers in favour of the Corporation on the promise and inducement that the retail outlet to be set up at the site would be leased out to the petitioner. The lease deed was drawn in the English language and executed on the aforesaid date, i.e., 25.8.2000 and a copy of the same was promised to be supplied to the petitioner but in vain. The petitioner invested his lifes savings in development of the leased plot and worked extremely hard for obtaining necessary permission of the concerned authorities and the retail outlet came up on the aforesaid site. The officials of the Corporation granted a work order on 29.12.2000, to the petitioner for a period of one year only. A true copy of work order dated 29.12.2000 is Annexure-1. The petitioner was made to sign several documents which were in English. However, the copies of the same were never supplied to him. In para 19 of the petition, it is alleged that to run the aforesaid outlet, the petitioner obtained loan from different sources including from State Bank of India. Gyanpur branch in nature of cash credit facility to the tune of Rs. 8,00,000 in order to effectively run the aforesaid retail outlet, A certificate to the aforesaid effect is Annexure-2. In the month of September, 2000, the petitioner came to know that an advertisement had been issued in the daily news paper Dainik Jagran published on 25.8,2000, where applications were invited for allotment of several outlets situated at different sites which were being run by or on behalf of the Corporation. The petitioner met the then Senior Divisional Manager of the Corporation at Allahabad and protested, but he Informed the petitioner that this was a formality and pointed to him that the advertisement had clearly stated that preference would be given to those persons who are either willing to transfer the land or lease it out. It is alleged in para 21 that the then Senior Divisional Manager also informed the petitioner that since the petitioner has already allowed the Corporation to obtain the land on lease, he would be given preference, and further preference would be given to the petitioner since he is already running a retail outlet and no complaints were found. A true copy of advertisement dated 25.8.2000 is Annexure-3.

4. The petitioner after obtaining the application form applied for the outlet on 3.10.2000. In para 28 of the petition, it is alleged that in mid July, the petitioner received an interview letter dated 11.7.2001, asking him to appear before the Dealer Selection Board at Allahabad on 31.7.2001. A true copy of interview letter dated 11.7.2001 is Annexure-5. The petitioner appeared before the Board and was interviewed. He informed members of the Board that he leased out the land for the retail outlet and is operating the same to the satisfaction of the officials of the Corporation and asked the members that he should be given preference in view of the conditions laid down in the advertisement. It is alleged that the petitioner had no other choice but to appear before the Board inspite of the open secret that very senior political leaders were trying their best to have their nominees selected for the retail outlet. This fact is also evident from a news item dated 30.7.2001. A true copy of the news item is Annexure-6. In para 31 of the petition, it is alleged that the worst fears of the petitioner proved to be true when on 31.7.2001, the result of the selection was displayed on the notice Board of the Dealer Selection Board at Allahabad and Anil Kumar Upadhyay respondent No. 4 was shown at serial No. 1 while Manoj Kumar Pandey and Smt. Dipti Misra were shown at serial Nos. 2 and 3. It is alleged in para 32 that Anil Kumar Upadhayay is the first cousin of the State Home Minister and both belong to the same Village. Manoj Kumar Pandey is allegedly the son of Gorakh Nath Pandey, sitting M.L.A. of the ruling party from Gyanpur Assembly constituency. Smt. Dipti Misra is alleged to be directly related to the Assembly Speaker. In para 35 of the writ petition, it is alleged that the State Home Minister, Sri Rang Nath Misra in a convoy of seven vehicles had gone to the petitioners retail outlet at Waheed Nagar and advised the petitioner to stop the working of the retail outlet since it has now been allotted to his relative and he also directed the Station House Officer of police station, Gopiganj to ensure the same. The retail outlet lies closed and a couple of policemen have been stationed at the outlet to ensure that it does not start operation. In para 36 of the petition, it is alleged that the petitioner was eligible in all respects and if the preference had been given to the petitioner as advertised in the newspaper, there was no occasion for his non-selection. In para 37 of the petition, it is alleged that no rational and fair method has been followed by the Dealer Selection Board, Allahabad and no criteria had been evolved by it as to how marks would be allotted to compare the comparative merit of the candidates. In paras 40 and 41 of the petition, reference has been made to some writ petitions in which also there were grievances of irregularities. Aggrieved, this writ petition has been filed.

5. A counter-affidavit has been filed by the Indian Oil Corporation. In para 6 of the same, it is stated that in respect of the dealership in question, the Field Investigation Report has already been successfully completed in favour of the respondent No. 4 and thereafter a letter of intent has also been issued on 9.8.2001 by the Corporation. A true copy of the letter of intent is Annexure-C.A. 2. In para 10, it is stated that the land in question does not belong to the petitioner and hence he cannot have any preferential claim for the grant of the outlet in question. In para 11 of the counter-affidavit, it is stated that there was a mutually agreed contract containing mutual terms and conditions between the parties concerned for the sale and purchase of the land in question belonging to the father-in-law of the petitioner and others, and the lease deed in question was a normal and valid deed like other similar lease deeds of 30 years. The execution of the lease deed is admitted but the allegations regarding inducement or the promise made by the officials of the Corporation are said to be wrong and are denied. The plot in question did not belong to the petitioner. Moreover, the allegations are wholly irrelevant. The other allegations against the officials of the corporation have also been denied and it is denied that any promise was given by the official. In fact, selection has been done by the Dealer Selection Board which is created by the Government of India, and the officials of the Corporation cannot grant any retail outlet. In para 13 of the counter-affidavit, it is stated that a temporary contract was given to the petitioner for a period of one year. It is denied that the then Senior Divisional Manager promised the petitioner for any alleged extension or any alleged further lease/allotment order and no Senior Divisional Manager can give this kind of assurance to any person. The job contract is a part of the record, and the petitioner is bound by the terms and conditions of the same. The petitioner has duly signed the relevant papers and documents and he is deemed to know the contents thereof. The relevant paper and copies were duly given to the petitioner.

6. In para 17, it is stated that the petitioner was only having a job contract for one year on C.O.C.O. basis and the increase in the sale of petroleum products depends upon a variety of factors. The C.O.C.O. basis has been explained in para 9 of the counter-affidavit. In para 22, it is stated that wrong allegations are being made without any factual basis. The selections are held in accordance with the detailed guidelines given by the Government of India. It is, however, admitted that the petitioner had appeared before the Dealer Selection Board. The alleged press report is highly irrelevant. The Dealer Selection Board had rightly prepared the panel. In para 25, it is stated that the petitioner himself has stopped lifting the supply of petroleum products since July, 2001 and a show cause notice was issued to him dated 1.8.2001. A true copy of show cause notice is Annexure-C.A. 3.

7. A counter-affidavit has also been filed by the respondent No. 4 Anil Kumar Upadhayay. In para 5, it is stated that merely because the petitioner has been permitted to run the petrol pump, that too temporarily, no right can be said to flow in his favour. It is absolutely clear from condition number A of Annexure-1 to the writ petition that the aforesaid agreement is only for one year with effect from 29.12.2000. It was terminable on one months notice and in case of breach of contract, it would be automatically terminated. In para 11 of the counter-affidavit, it is stated that the petitioner was challaned in a case u/s 379, I.P.C., in police station Dumri Gridih in Crime Case No. 54 of 1955. His brother Ashok Kumar too was involved in the aforesaid crime. The fact that the family members of the petitioner are hardened criminals is said to be fortified from the particulars supplied by the police station, Gopiganj. In para 15, the respondent No. 4 denied that he has any connection with Sri Rang Nath Misra, State Home Minister. It is denied that the respondent No. 4 is first cousin of Rang Nath Misra and these are reckless allegations. It Is stated in para 17 that since the petitioner is not possessed of any lien over the land in question and he is not in possession of the leased outlet, therefore, there is no question of granting preference to the petitioner.

8. A large number of other affidavits have also been filed and we have perused the same. In our opinion, highly disputed questions of fact are involved in this case which cannot be decided in writ jurisdiction. Moreover, we are in agreement with the respondent that the petitioner is not entitled to any preference, as he did not own any land. The land in question belongs to the father-in-law of the petitioner and not the petitioner. Moreover, the petitioner was only given a job contract on C.O.C.O. basis only for one year. In our opinion, this temporary grant cannot confer any right on the petitioner. The petitioner appeared before the Dealer Selection Board but was not selected. Hence he cannot complain now. The petitioner never challenged the selection process by the Board at the time of selection and it only after his non-selection that he has chosen to challenge it. In view of the decision of the Supreme Court in Chandra Prakash Tiwari and Others Vs. Shakuntala Shukla and Others, the petitioner is estopped from doing so.

9. The allotment given to the petitioner was on C.O.C.O. basis for one year and is entirely distinct from regular allotment. Regular allotment has to be done through the agency of the Dealer Selection Board. The petitioner appeared in the interview but was not selected. Hence there is no merit in the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner.

10. The petitioner alleged that the respondent No. 4 is related to Sri Rang Nath Misra, the State Home Minister. Sri Rang Nath Misra has not been arrayed as a respondent and the respondent No. 4 has denied any connection with him, Hence, these are disputed questions of fact which cannot possibly be decided in writ jurisdiction. The allegations in paras 26 and 27 of the writ petition that the Dealer Selection Board at Allahabad has been superseded/disbanded by the Central Government, had been denied by the respondents. It is alleged that the Central Government had merely stayed the interview of the Dealer Selection Board I. The impugned selection was made by Dealer Selection Board-II. The petitioner had participated in the selection process and he cannot subsequently turn around and call it bad, in view of several decisions of the Supreme Court e.g., G. Sarana Vs. University of Lucknow and Others, Sardara Singh and others, etc. Vs. State of Punjab and others, and Patel Natwarlal Rupji Vs. Shri Kondh Group Kheti Vishayak and another,

11. This Court cannot sit in appeal over the decision by the Dealer Selection Board vide Patel Natwarlal Rupji Vs. Shri Kondh Group Kheti Vishayak and another, The Chancellor and Another Vs. Dr Bijayananda Kar and Others, M/s. Style (Dress Land) Vs. Union Territory Chandigarh and Another, Apparel Export Promotion Council Vs. A.K. Chopra, Chairman, J and K State Board of Education Vs. Feyaz Ahmed Malik and Others, Union of India v. Lt. General Rajayada Singh, 2OOO (6) SCC 698 and Prime Channel and Another Vs. Union of India (UOI) and Others,

12. For the reasons given above, this petition has no merit and it is accordingly dismissed.