1. This Writ Petition is filed for the following relief:-

               “ … … … to issue an order or direction more particularly one in the nature of ‘Writ of Mandamus’ declaring the action of respondent Nos.2 & 3 in cancelling the candidature of the petitioner for awarding NDNE LPG Retailership at Sanathnagar locality, Hyderabad District, vide proceedings Ref.No.SIDO/ND/SANT/05, dated 29.09.2025, as illegal and arbitrary and contrary to the IOCL Selection Guidelines on appointment and operation of NDNE Retailers for marketing of packed NDNE LPG to Industrial/Commercial Segments (Revised in August, 2022), contrary to the requirements mentioned in application and violative of Articles 14, 19 & 21 of Constitution of India and to set-aside the same and to direct the respondent Nos.2 & 3 to appoint the petitioner as NDNE LPG Retailer of Sanathnagar Locality, Hyderabad District.”

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.2 & 3-Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

3. The brief facts of the case are that, the petitioner, who is having required qualification for holding the Non-Domestic Non-Essential (NDNE) LPG Retailership and is working in M/s.Vikasni Indane since August, 2018 to till date, administered the LPG business overall in terms of Marketing, Customer Handling, Logistics Management, Conversion to LPG from other fuels, Finance Management, Workforce Management, etc. and had actively participated at all trainings and workshops conducted by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) which led the petitioner to have a very good customers in line to business of M/s.Vikasni Indane, which has also represented with IOCL in several meetings held at IOCL Head office. On 28.04.2023, the respondent-Indian Oil Corporation Limited had issued an advertisement calling applications for appointment of NDNE LPG Retailership at Sanathnagar, Hyderabad District, under open category and fixed the last date of application as 29.05.2023. The petitioner being well qualified and satisfied with all the requirements, submitted application for said NDNE LPG Retailership. After verification of the said applications, the respondent authorities found only 4 candidates to be eligible, including the petitioner, vide Final List of Applicants dated 02.07.2024. Based on the marks allotted in the interview under various categories in terms of the guidelines, the petitioner was ranked first in the merit list dated 15.07.2024. The respondents addressed letter dated 26.08.2024 to the petitioner requesting to deposit an amount of Rs.2,50,000/- towards 50% of Security Deposit for conducting Field Verification of Credentials (FVC). Accordingly, the petitioner remitted the security deposit on 03.09.2024. However, the petitioner received the impugned proceedings dated 29.09.2025 cancelling the proposed NDNE LPG Retailership of Sanathnagar, by stating that the Experience Certificate submitted by the petitioner is not signed by Mr.Sai Ram, Proprietor of M/s. Vikasni Indane and it is not genuine. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached this Court and filed the present Writ Petition.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the proceedings dated 29.09.2025 issued by the respondent No.3 is illegal and contrary to the IOCL Selection Guidelines on appointment and operation of NDNE Retailers for Marketing of Packed NDNE LPG to Industrial/Commercial Segments and therefore prayed to set-aside the same.

5. Per contra, learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.2 & 3 -Indian Oil Corporation Limited bill submitted that during Field Verification of Credentials (FVC), it was observed that the Experience Certificate produced by the petitioner was not issued or signed by the Proprietor of M/s.Vikasni Indane. Hence, the candidature of the petitioner is rejected for submission of false document towards experience as per Point No.10 (Note), Point No.15 of application and affidavit of the petitioner dated 27.05.2023.

6. A perusal of Sl.No.10 of the application format for NDNE Retailer IOCL clearly discloses that the applicant has to mention the experience in LPG business or in the area of conversion to LPG from other fuels/design of LPG infrastructure facility/consultancy to the above, as Distributor, Business Associate or Transporter or having work order from any Oil Company to construct pipeline and allied facilities in Bottling plants and etc. The Note appended to the said serial number also clearly stipulates that marks will be awarded based on the information given in the application and on answers to leading question in connection with experience claimed during interview. Since the information given by the petitioner pertaining to the said serial number is found to be incorrect, he is declared as not eligible for NDNE LPG Retailership. Further, the Proprietor of Vikasni Indane vide its letter dated 25.05.2023 confirmed that the Experience Certificate produced by the petitioner was not signed by him and is not genuine. Hence, considering the same, the respondent authorities have rejected the candidature of the petitioner for the proposed NDNE LPG Retailership of Sanathnagar and thereby issued proceedings vide Ref.No.SIDO/ND/SANT/05, dated 29.09.2025. This Court does not find any reason to set-aside the impugned order passed by the respondent authorities as it deems fit and proper. Hence, the petition lacks merits and is deserved to be dismissed.

7. In the result, the Writ Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

8. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.