Question : INTERVIEW FOR SELECTION OF DEALERSHIPS AT PANIPAT

(a) whether the interview committee of IOCL officers has not followed the relevant provision in the selection of petrol pumps dealers during interviews at Panipat and not given the marks to all the candidates who were Matriculates and were in the age group of 56 to 65 years;

(b) if so, whether such candidates would be reinterviewed;

(c) if so, whether there is also a provision of securing at least 60 percent pass marks out of 65 marks by the land owner or his nominee appearing for the award of dealership;

(d) if so, whether it is a uniform policy in all the four oil PSU`s and

(e) if not, the reasons for the same?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN)

(a) & (b): In the interviews held at Panipat during the 17th / 19th November, 2003 for selection of dealers, the selection committee of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) had evaluated the candidates on various parameters, including those in respect of age and educational qualification, in line with their guidelines for selection of dealerships.

(c) to (e): After the dismantling of the Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) in the petroleum sector with effect from 1.4.2002, the public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) are authorized to select dealers / distributors for retail outlet dealerships (petrol pumps), LPG distributorships and SKO-LDO dealerships on the basis of guidelines adopted by them. The Government have advised the OMCs to observe certain broad parameters in the guidelines. Accordingly, the OMCs have formulated their own guidelines for selection of dealers/distributors of petroleum products. Excepting Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, the other three OMCs, namely, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and IBP Co. Limited do have a provision, in the guidelines adopted by them, to the effect that when land-owners/their nominess are considered for award of dealerships, they should secure, in the interviews taken by the selection committees, a minimum of 60% marks out of 65 marks for the parameters, other than that regarding land, infrastructure and facilities.