Vidya Milind Lolge And ORS v. Union Of India Thr Sec Ministry Of Petroleum And Natural Gas And ORS

918-WP-4861-2025 (C).doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 4861 OF 2025 Vidya Milind Lolge & Ors.

...Petitioners

Versus

Union of India Through The Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum And Natural Gas & Ors.

...Respondents

__________ Mr. Drupad S. Patil a/w Mr. Balasaheb G. Ligade for the Petitioners. Ms. Naveena Kumai for Respondent No. 1/UOI.

Dr. Birendra Saraf, Sr. Advocate a/w Mr. Amol Bavare, Mr. R. V. Pawar & Mr. Krishnan Iyer i/b Pragnya Legal for Respondent-IOCL. Mr. Sunil Gangan a/w Mr. Swapnil Shikhare i/b RMG Law Associates for Respondent Nos. 2 & 3.

__________ CORAM :

G. S. KULKARNI & ADVAIT M. SETHNA, JJ.

DATE :

9 APRIL 2025 P.C. :

1.

Let reply-affidavit to the petition be placed on record within three weeks from today.

2.

Insofar as ad-interim protection sought by the Petitioners are concerned, our attention is drawn to an order dated 7 April 2025 passed by the Division Bench of this Court at Nagpur in the case of M/s. Megha Indane and Others V/s. Union of India and Others1, whereby while adjourning the proceedings an ad-interim order has been granted to the effect that the operation of the impugned policy dated 21 February 2025 has been stayed. It is submitted on behalf of the Petitioners that similar Writ Petition No. 1885 of 2025.

Gitalaxmi

918-WP-4861-2025 (C).doc orders be passed in the present proceedings.

3.

Dr. Saraf, learned Advocate General appearing for the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. would submit that as the Writ Petitions are filed before other Benches of this Court, his client would intend to move appropriate proceedings for clubbing all the proceedings to be heard at one Bench. It appears to us that the contention of Dr. Saraf is justified. 4.

Stand over to 16 April 2025 High on Board.

5.

We are inclined to grant ad-interim protection to the Petitioners in similar terms as granted in the other batch of petitions which were before us today viz. Writ Petition Nos. 4834 of 2025, 4838 of 2025, 4607 of 2025, 4651 of 2025, 4682 of 2025 & 4258 of 2025 wherein we have stayed the impugned policy dated 21 February 2025. Ordered accordingly. However, insofar as the action of the Respondents taken against the Petitioners under the impugned policy, the Petitioners pray for certain further reliefs on which we shall hear the parties on the adjourned date of hearing.

6.

Let copy of this order be served on the Respondents. Considering the interim protection as granted by us, the Respondent-IOCL is directed not to take any further action against the Petitioners under the impugned policy.

[ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.] [G. S. KULKARNI, J.] by GITALAXMI KRISHNA KOTAWADEKAR Date:

2025.04.15 19:08:37 +0530 GITALAXMI KRISHNA KOTAWADEKAR Gitalaxmi