Plea challenging petrol bunk in Kaniyambadi dismissed

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice R Hemalatha, on dismissing the plea, said, “It seems that the petition has been prompted by some ulterior motive. Possibly, the petitioner has been set up by some rival petroleum retail outlet owner whose business is likely to be affected.”

However, the bench said the retail outlet will comply with all environmental norms and take necessary fire safety measures.

The bench in its order also held that the petitioner has not been able to advert to any rule, regulation and/or law, which was being infringed in setting up the retail outlet.

It was stated that the petitioner has come to understand that there was a guideline which prohibits the setting up of petrol bunks within a kilometre from another petrol bunk.

However, the guideline has not been produced. “It is vaguely alleged that the entire village would be at risk of fire because of setting up of the petrol bunk and if any fire accident occurred, the entire village would be gutted. However, the petitioner has not given a single incident of fire at a petroleum bunk and/or retail outlet, which has engulfed and/ or caused large scale damage in the adjacent areas,” the bench added.