Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, v. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 15-04-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR and WPMP Crl.No.119 of 2026
1. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Revional Office, Rep.by its, Senior Regional Manager, Coimbatore Retail Regional Officer, No.18/3, Big Bazaar Street, Coimbatore - 641 001. Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore.
2.The Inspector of Police, Karamadai Police Station, Coimbatore.
Respondent(s) PRAYER To issue writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd Respondent to provide adequate police protection to the Petitioners Officials to resume the operation in the retail outlet situated at S.F.No.463/3A, Bellathi Village, Mettupalayam Taluk and pass such further or other orders.
For Petitioner(s):
Ms.Bensi Rema For Vijayan M M/s. King And Partridge For Respondent(s):
Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam Additional Public Prosecutor 1 / 8
ORDER
The petitioner is a public sector entity viz., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as 'HPCL') represented through its Senior Regional Manager has filed this writ petition seeking adequate police protection to the petitioner's officials to resume operation in their retail outlet situated at S.F.No.463/3A, Bellathi Village, Mettupalayam Taluk. 2.The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the Senior Regional Manager (Retail), Coimbatore, had entered into a registered lease deed in Document No.307 of 2007 with the landlord one Karupanna Gounder Kaliappan, taking lease of the land measuring 3,025 sq.mts in Bellathi Village, Mettupalayam Taluk, for a period of 25 years from 01.03.2007 to 29.02.
2032, with an option for renewal for further period of HPCL outlet paying the rentals as agreed without any default. HPCL has established a petroleum retail outlet on the land by installing underground tanks, dispensing units, steel canopy and other essential facilities for running a retail outlet. All the above constructions were constructed by HPCL at its own cost and are the exclusive property of HPCL and these facilities are vital for safe and lawful operation of the petroleum outlet and are governed by statutory licensing requirements.
3.It is further submitted that M/s.Poovya Agencies represented by its sole proprietrix, one Manonmani was appointed as a dealer to operate the outlet under the dealership agreement dated 29.08.2007 and the retail outlet was being operated by the said dealer since, August, 2007. The dealership agreement was renewed periodically and it is valid till 30.08.2037. The dealer got into some financial problem and was unable to place orders for adequate stock of petroleum products and from December, 2024, it kept an outstanding of Rs.4.20 lakhs. The dealer opted out of the dealership for a period of two years and the HPCL had took over as adhoc dealer and when the officials went to the outlet on 17.07.2025 for taking over the outlet, at that time, a suit has been filed by one M/s.
Om Shakthi Constructions and Builders, a partnership firm represented by one N.Sekar, claiming that he had paid huge sums of money to the dealer Ms.Manonmani and they have some dispute in this regard. 4.He had filed a civil suit in O.S.No.76 of 2025 and I.A.No.1 of 2025, before the District Munsif Court, Mettupalayam, and obtained an exparte order on 12.08.2025. Showing the same, he restrained the HPCL officials and police also failed to give any protection despite the petitioner being a public sector entity. The police stood as mute citing civil cases are pending. Hence, HPCL had given representation to the higher officials, but no positive response. Hence, HPCL filed CRP.No.
dated 26.11.2025, had disposed of the CRP directing the petitioners / HPCL to file a vacate stay petition. Thereafter vacate stay petition had been filed and the learned District Munsif Mettupalayam, by an order dated 08.01.2026 vacated the exparte order. Thereafter, a representation have been made to the respondent police. The respondent police had not taken any action and hence, this petition. Further, the petitioner had produced a letter given by the Inspector of Police, Karamadai Police Station, Coimbatore District, dated 06.02.2026. 5.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that HPCL being a public sector entity and the respondent police will have no hesitation to provide protection on the request. Earlier there was a civil suit pending and for that reason there was some hesitation. Now, the interim order passed vacated.
The letter given on 06.02.2026 is on a wrong understanding by the police and now the police are ready to give adequate police protection and that too at this difficult time the availability of petroleum products to the public is very much important and they will be ready to provide adequate police protection. The letter dated 06.02.
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6.The letter reads, as I.A.No.1 of 2025 and O.S.No.76 of 2025 is in force, which is not so. By order dated 08.01.2026, the Civil Court vacated the exparte order. It is apathy to see that a public sector undertaking has been made to run from pillar to post to seek police protection. According to the petitioner, there are 1000 litres of petrol and 350 litre of HSD and other flammable articles are stored in the petrol bunk and if any untoward incident takes place, it will cause huge disaster in the said locality and the reason stated by the police that a civil dispute is pending and not granting police protection is not acceptable. Hence, the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore, to enquire into the matter and to give appropriate instructions and if required to take action. 7.The 2nd respondent Police is directed to give adequate Police protection to the petitioner to resume the operation of the retail outlet of HPCL without any reason or delay.
8.With the above directions, this petition is disposed of. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. 15-04-2026 krk Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes NOTE : Issue order copy on 16.04.2026.
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To 1.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore.
2.The Inspector of Police, Karamadai Police Station, Coimbatore.
3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.
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M.NIRMAL KUMAR J.
krk WP Crl. No. 242 of 2026 and WPMP Crl.No.119 of 2026 15-04-2026 8 / 8