March 28: While the jury is still out as to why the contract for the Authentix marker system was terminated, the CBI, in its recent findings, has observed lapses in the tendering process for the marker system. It may be recalled that the marker system developed by the British manufacturer, Authentix, and employed by the Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) in late 2006, had proved to be of doubtful success. It was claimed that Authentix failed to live up to its claims and its marker had little success. An audit carried out of various samples of auto fuel from Retail Outlets (ROs) in 2007 revealed various marker test failures. Furthermore, an enquiry conducted by IOC`s vigilance department had detected that a brown chemical powder was being used to negate the efficiency of the marker system. In this backdrop, a CBI investigation was launched on the manner in which the marker was obtained without going through a proper tender process. In a recent advisory to the petroleum ministry, the CBI has made the following suggestion on how tendering should be done for acquiring marker systems in the future:
8In all procurement matters, proper global tender should be issued and not a global Expression of Interest (EOI)
8In case of issue of global EOI, it should only be used for academic purpose and should not be coupled with procurement process
8It is to be ensured that the bidding process invites healthy competition beneficial to the oil marketing companies (OMCs)
8The R&D department of the OMCs should be more professional in their approach and give clear recommendations with reason for their choices
8The officials visiting other countries to study the performance of marker should submit proper tour reports with supporting documents to the higher authorities
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lessons on becoming HPCL director marketing
Vol 14, PW 19 (24 Mar 2011) - Politics & People
Eight months have passed since S. Roy Choudhury became chairman of Hindustan Petroleum. Yet the director marketing position he left behind is still empty, caught in the crossfire between supporters of two candidates battling to replace him: Nishi Vasudeva, 54, executive director in the company’s LPG business, based in Mumbai, who came first in PESB interviews on December 21; and Sudhakar Rao, 57, executive director ‘direct sales’, also based in Mumbai, who came second. Rao, we hear, has enlisted the help of three Congress MPs from his home state Andhra Pradesh, hoping their relationship with oil minister Jaipal Reddy, also a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh, will help. One of the MPs, Suresh Shetkar, elected from Zahirabad, confirms to this report he wrote to Reddy in February, asking the minister to overturn Vasudeva’s selection, claiming she does not have the minimum two years marketing experience needed to apply for this high-profile post. “I met Jaipal Reddy also,” Shetkar tells this report. “Rao has more than seven years marketing experience. Injustice should not happen to him.” Shetkar adds: “I am trying to help Rao. He is a very old family friend; he helped my brother.” Asked to respond, Rao said: “I don’t know this MP (Shetkar). And I don’t know his brother.” Denials aside, Rao supporters argue Vasudeva joined HPCL’s marketing division only a year ago in February 2010, falling short of the two-year mandatory experience. “But (chairman) Roy Choudhury supports her,” says a Rao supporter. Friends of Vasudeva, a graduate of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata, counter this by saying her PESB selection was made on merit. “She did well in the interview,” we hear. “That’s why she came first. All her papers are in order.” HPCL’s director marketing post is vacant since August 1 last year when Roy Choudhury became CMD.
NOTE: Congress MP Suresh Shetkar confirms to this report that during his meeting with Reddy the oil minister promised to review Vasudeva’s selection and consider Rao for the position. This might explain the delay in any formal announcement, as Reddy is fast gaining a reputation as a slow decision-maker, particularly on sensitive PSU appointments. If selected, Vasudeva would become the first woman full-time director on a state-owned oil company board. Eighteen candidates submitted CVs by last year’s October 18 deadline. Fifteen were shortlisted, among them seven internal HPCL candidates, including AB Thosar, an executive director in the pipelines and projects division; MS Damle, an executive director in the retail division; YK Gawali, an executive director in the distribution division; and two (lower rank) general managers.
Vol 14, PW 19 (24 Mar 2011) - Politics & People
Eight months have passed since S. Roy Choudhury became chairman of Hindustan Petroleum. Yet the director marketing position he left behind is still empty, caught in the crossfire between supporters of two candidates battling to replace him: Nishi Vasudeva, 54, executive director in the company’s LPG business, based in Mumbai, who came first in PESB interviews on December 21; and Sudhakar Rao, 57, executive director ‘direct sales’, also based in Mumbai, who came second. Rao, we hear, has enlisted the help of three Congress MPs from his home state Andhra Pradesh, hoping their relationship with oil minister Jaipal Reddy, also a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh, will help. One of the MPs, Suresh Shetkar, elected from Zahirabad, confirms to this report he wrote to Reddy in February, asking the minister to overturn Vasudeva’s selection, claiming she does not have the minimum two years marketing experience needed to apply for this high-profile post. “I met Jaipal Reddy also,” Shetkar tells this report. “Rao has more than seven years marketing experience. Injustice should not happen to him.” Shetkar adds: “I am trying to help Rao. He is a very old family friend; he helped my brother.” Asked to respond, Rao said: “I don’t know this MP (Shetkar). And I don’t know his brother.” Denials aside, Rao supporters argue Vasudeva joined HPCL’s marketing division only a year ago in February 2010, falling short of the two-year mandatory experience. “But (chairman) Roy Choudhury supports her,” says a Rao supporter. Friends of Vasudeva, a graduate of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata, counter this by saying her PESB selection was made on merit. “She did well in the interview,” we hear. “That’s why she came first. All her papers are in order.” HPCL’s director marketing post is vacant since August 1 last year when Roy Choudhury became CMD.
NOTE: Congress MP Suresh Shetkar confirms to this report that during his meeting with Reddy the oil minister promised to review Vasudeva’s selection and consider Rao for the position. This might explain the delay in any formal announcement, as Reddy is fast gaining a reputation as a slow decision-maker, particularly on sensitive PSU appointments. If selected, Vasudeva would become the first woman full-time director on a state-owned oil company board. Eighteen candidates submitted CVs by last year’s October 18 deadline. Fifteen were shortlisted, among them seven internal HPCL candidates, including AB Thosar, an executive director in the pipelines and projects division; MS Damle, an executive director in the retail division; YK Gawali, an executive director in the distribution division; and two (lower rank) general managers.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Chronological Events of the case
28.4.2008 All India CEC of HPMSA resolved against the appointment of Sanjay Grover as CEO of HINCOL . He was appointed 3 grades higher and he had resigned from HPCL 2 years before.
5.5.08 C& MD , HPCL, Arun Balakrishnan refused to review his decision in a CEC meeting
6.5.2008 400 HPCL officers gheraoed Ashok Singh& R.P.Sriavstava at HPCL’s Mumbai refinery colony in H.P.Nagar east , chembur while they were on their way to office and demanded that Dir-HR,GM-HR be called and discuss the appointment of Sanjay Grover.Dir-HR,GM-HR came to colony for one-to-one meeting with officers. Association leaders were called to Marketing Head office in Ballard Estate @5 P.M and minutes were drafted.GM-HR assured that same will be signed by Dir -HR and handed over next day since Dir-HR was away to Delhi.
7.5.08 Ashok singh & R.P.Srivastava were issued charge sheet for instigating officers for agitation by way of sending emails, they were President and Treasurer of the HPMSA&OSOA respectively. They had opposed Govt. against Privatization of HPCL/BPCL and won the case from Supreme court.
12.5.08 Ashok Singh & R.P.Srivastava filed CBI complaint before Regional Director Mumbai against Secy Petroleum MOP&NG, Authentix&SGS (suppliers ) for Rs. 200 cr. Irregularity in procurement of Marker system under implementation by OMC’s for checking adulteration of kerosene in Petrol/ Diesel.
16.5.08 Ashok singh suspended within 4 days of filing above complaint by framing him in a misappropriation case at one one of the Retail outlets in his area , he was in charge of 140 such outlets.
27.5.08 demanded “whistle Blowers protection “as per Govt. of India’s resolution from CVC and a meeting fixed with VC Sudhir kumar on 6.6.08.
4.6.08 Times of india News “crack down on fuel mafia’
6.6.08 Met VC sudhir kumar and appealed to him for getting us whistle blower’s protection
11.6.08 R.P.Srivastava issued a charge memo by HPCL for displaying some Technical committee report on Association Notice board on 6.6.08(while he was in Delhi with VC). This report was available on petroleum sector website indianpetro.com since 21.5.08
16.6.08 PIL NO.60/2008 filed by NAPM activist Simpreet singh in Mumbai High Court by Adv. Shri Y.P.Singh.
21.6.08 HPCL derecognized HPMSA and coerced /threatened officers to resign from Association membership, they obtained a letter from Registrar’s office that Association was de registered.
23.6.08 HPCL instituted enquiry in 7.5.08 charge sheet and appointed one retired HPCL officer as Enquiry officer , both the officers vehemently opposed his appointment since they have had heated debates with him in joint HR committee in 1998, and his fairness was doubtful.
29.6.08 HPCL Board recorded in their minutes that Association leaders will be fixed and taught a lesson for instigating officers
7.7.08 HPMSA filed case against deregistration in labor court Bandra east
16.7.08 HPCL instituted enquiry in 7.5.08 charge sheet and both the officers once again strongly opposed Enquiry officer’s appointment.
21/22.07.08 Ashok singh & R.P.Srivastava met VC sudhir kumar again and advised him of the torture and humiliation
24.7.08 HPCL issued charge memo for sending a mail message to his OSOA members that “Today marker PIL was heard in Mumbai High Court’.
30.7.08 Once HPCL Board resolved to fix the Association leaders in their meeting on 29.7.08
30.07.08 R.P.Srivastava was issued another charge sheet for the charge memo of 11.6.08 i.e display of technical committee report on HPMSA notice board.
7.8.08 Both officers met 3rd time VC Sudhir kumar and pleaded his intervention in their ongoing ordeal of charge sheet/charge memo’s humiliation and atrocities.
10.9.08 R.P.Srivastava issued one more explanation letter.
25.09.08 R.P.Srivastva filed writ petition No. 2254/2008 in Mumbai high court for quashing the enquiry in view of illegalities and bias of enquiry officer.
1.10.08 Mumbai high court ordered and granted liberty , for approaching in the event of adverse order from HPCL in the 7.5.08 charge sheet and enquiry case
5.10.08 Indian express news item confirmed that marker launched by MOP&NG and OMC’s was not tamper proof and could be laundered by ordinary clay.
23.10.08 Hon’ble Mumbai high court ordered CBI enquiry in the Marker PIL no. 60 and also an independent enquiry by Vigilance dept tog MOP&NG
31.10.08 CVC rejected appeals of both the officers and stated in their order that “ they cannot be given whistle blower protection and job related and shall be treated as plain complainant
10.11.08 Enquiry officer abruptly concluded the enquiry , declining charged officer’s request of summoning Dir-HR and GM HR , IT&S officer of HPCL .
21.11.08 R..P.Srivastava enquiry commenced in 2nd charge sheet dt. 30.7.08, his salary deducted for October 2008 , conveyance reimbursement stopped, evicted from his office , assistance removed and made to sit under stairs case.
24.12.08 Indian express news regarding irregularities in the marker procurement , no success in checking adulteration and marker system was abruptly withdrawn by MOP&NG and OMC’s w.e.f 31.12.08
31.12.08 Marker system removed across the country and Rs. 200 cr. Of public exchequer sunk.
7-9.01.09 OSOA went on 3 days All India strike against strike against salary revision HPCL officers did not participate even then HPCL suspended R.P.Srivastava alleging him instigation of officers though he himself was on duty for all the days during strike.
25.2.09 Enquiry officer submitted his report disciplinary authority sent letter to Singh& Srivastava for their reply
28.02.09 srivastava issued 3rd charge sheet for suspension of 9.1.09.
12.03.09 Both the officers were dismissed from services of HPCL without allowing them even statuary 15 days to reply Enquiry officer’s report.
27.03.09 Both the officers filed their statuary appeal before the appellate authority i.e AFD(All functional directors) against dismissal order.
29.4.09 CBI filed PE NO. 0001in the marker case against Secy. Petroleum, Authentix & SGS and unknown officials of OMC’s.
22.6.2009 Times of India news that HPCL ‘S own R&D advisor had mentioned as early as in Jan 2005 in the Petrotech. Seminar in New Delhi that marker introduced was carcinogenic(may cause cancer among human being)in nature
15.7.09 R.P.Srivastava’s appeal rejected by AFD .
2.8.09 R.P.Srivatsava evicted from the company accommodation.
31.8.09 HPMSA’s registration restored by Registrar of Trade unions consequent to the order of the labor court dt. 3.4.09.
21.09.09 CN-IBN exposed entire marker scam and all irregularities in its procurement , and stated that Authentix was a black listed company abroad with the name BIOCODE . It also mentioned that CVC has ordered CBI to investigate the charges against senior Ministry officials .
1.10.09 HPCL rejected Ashok Singh’s appeal also and modified R.P.Srivastava’s order from dismissal from service to “removal from service” hence no bar on future employment.
23.04.10 Ashok singh & Srivastava filed their writ petition in Mumbai High Court Nos. 2106&2207 respectively against their order of Removal from Service.
19.8.2010 CBI in their report found the CBI complaint by us was correct and MOP&NG issued advisory to all OMC Chairmen to be cautious in future procurements .
7.9.2010 Writ Petitions of R.P.Srivastava & Ashok Singh admitted in Mumbai High Court
22.11.2010 Shri shri Prakash Director MOP&NG admitted in a RTI reply to R.P.Srivastava that Ministry is still investigating the Marker case.
19.1.2011 Murli Deora removed from Ministry of Petroleum
28.4.2008 All India CEC of HPMSA resolved against the appointment of Sanjay Grover as CEO of HINCOL . He was appointed 3 grades higher and he had resigned from HPCL 2 years before.
5.5.08 C& MD , HPCL, Arun Balakrishnan refused to review his decision in a CEC meeting
6.5.2008 400 HPCL officers gheraoed Ashok Singh& R.P.Sriavstava at HPCL’s Mumbai refinery colony in H.P.Nagar east , chembur while they were on their way to office and demanded that Dir-HR,GM-HR be called and discuss the appointment of Sanjay Grover.Dir-HR,GM-HR came to colony for one-to-one meeting with officers. Association leaders were called to Marketing Head office in Ballard Estate @5 P.M and minutes were drafted.GM-HR assured that same will be signed by Dir -HR and handed over next day since Dir-HR was away to Delhi.
7.5.08 Ashok singh & R.P.Srivastava were issued charge sheet for instigating officers for agitation by way of sending emails, they were President and Treasurer of the HPMSA&OSOA respectively. They had opposed Govt. against Privatization of HPCL/BPCL and won the case from Supreme court.
12.5.08 Ashok Singh & R.P.Srivastava filed CBI complaint before Regional Director Mumbai against Secy Petroleum MOP&NG, Authentix&SGS (suppliers ) for Rs. 200 cr. Irregularity in procurement of Marker system under implementation by OMC’s for checking adulteration of kerosene in Petrol/ Diesel.
16.5.08 Ashok singh suspended within 4 days of filing above complaint by framing him in a misappropriation case at one one of the Retail outlets in his area , he was in charge of 140 such outlets.
27.5.08 demanded “whistle Blowers protection “as per Govt. of India’s resolution from CVC and a meeting fixed with VC Sudhir kumar on 6.6.08.
4.6.08 Times of india News “crack down on fuel mafia’
6.6.08 Met VC sudhir kumar and appealed to him for getting us whistle blower’s protection
11.6.08 R.P.Srivastava issued a charge memo by HPCL for displaying some Technical committee report on Association Notice board on 6.6.08(while he was in Delhi with VC). This report was available on petroleum sector website indianpetro.com since 21.5.08
16.6.08 PIL NO.60/2008 filed by NAPM activist Simpreet singh in Mumbai High Court by Adv. Shri Y.P.Singh.
21.6.08 HPCL derecognized HPMSA and coerced /threatened officers to resign from Association membership, they obtained a letter from Registrar’s office that Association was de registered.
23.6.08 HPCL instituted enquiry in 7.5.08 charge sheet and appointed one retired HPCL officer as Enquiry officer , both the officers vehemently opposed his appointment since they have had heated debates with him in joint HR committee in 1998, and his fairness was doubtful.
29.6.08 HPCL Board recorded in their minutes that Association leaders will be fixed and taught a lesson for instigating officers
7.7.08 HPMSA filed case against deregistration in labor court Bandra east
16.7.08 HPCL instituted enquiry in 7.5.08 charge sheet and both the officers once again strongly opposed Enquiry officer’s appointment.
21/22.07.08 Ashok singh & R.P.Srivastava met VC sudhir kumar again and advised him of the torture and humiliation
24.7.08 HPCL issued charge memo for sending a mail message to his OSOA members that “Today marker PIL was heard in Mumbai High Court’.
30.7.08 Once HPCL Board resolved to fix the Association leaders in their meeting on 29.7.08
30.07.08 R.P.Srivastava was issued another charge sheet for the charge memo of 11.6.08 i.e display of technical committee report on HPMSA notice board.
7.8.08 Both officers met 3rd time VC Sudhir kumar and pleaded his intervention in their ongoing ordeal of charge sheet/charge memo’s humiliation and atrocities.
10.9.08 R.P.Srivastava issued one more explanation letter.
25.09.08 R.P.Srivastva filed writ petition No. 2254/2008 in Mumbai high court for quashing the enquiry in view of illegalities and bias of enquiry officer.
1.10.08 Mumbai high court ordered and granted liberty , for approaching in the event of adverse order from HPCL in the 7.5.08 charge sheet and enquiry case
5.10.08 Indian express news item confirmed that marker launched by MOP&NG and OMC’s was not tamper proof and could be laundered by ordinary clay.
23.10.08 Hon’ble Mumbai high court ordered CBI enquiry in the Marker PIL no. 60 and also an independent enquiry by Vigilance dept tog MOP&NG
31.10.08 CVC rejected appeals of both the officers and stated in their order that “ they cannot be given whistle blower protection and job related and shall be treated as plain complainant
10.11.08 Enquiry officer abruptly concluded the enquiry , declining charged officer’s request of summoning Dir-HR and GM HR , IT&S officer of HPCL .
21.11.08 R..P.Srivastava enquiry commenced in 2nd charge sheet dt. 30.7.08, his salary deducted for October 2008 , conveyance reimbursement stopped, evicted from his office , assistance removed and made to sit under stairs case.
24.12.08 Indian express news regarding irregularities in the marker procurement , no success in checking adulteration and marker system was abruptly withdrawn by MOP&NG and OMC’s w.e.f 31.12.08
31.12.08 Marker system removed across the country and Rs. 200 cr. Of public exchequer sunk.
7-9.01.09 OSOA went on 3 days All India strike against strike against salary revision HPCL officers did not participate even then HPCL suspended R.P.Srivastava alleging him instigation of officers though he himself was on duty for all the days during strike.
25.2.09 Enquiry officer submitted his report disciplinary authority sent letter to Singh& Srivastava for their reply
28.02.09 srivastava issued 3rd charge sheet for suspension of 9.1.09.
12.03.09 Both the officers were dismissed from services of HPCL without allowing them even statuary 15 days to reply Enquiry officer’s report.
27.03.09 Both the officers filed their statuary appeal before the appellate authority i.e AFD(All functional directors) against dismissal order.
29.4.09 CBI filed PE NO. 0001in the marker case against Secy. Petroleum, Authentix & SGS and unknown officials of OMC’s.
22.6.2009 Times of India news that HPCL ‘S own R&D advisor had mentioned as early as in Jan 2005 in the Petrotech. Seminar in New Delhi that marker introduced was carcinogenic(may cause cancer among human being)in nature
15.7.09 R.P.Srivastava’s appeal rejected by AFD .
2.8.09 R.P.Srivatsava evicted from the company accommodation.
31.8.09 HPMSA’s registration restored by Registrar of Trade unions consequent to the order of the labor court dt. 3.4.09.
21.09.09 CN-IBN exposed entire marker scam and all irregularities in its procurement , and stated that Authentix was a black listed company abroad with the name BIOCODE . It also mentioned that CVC has ordered CBI to investigate the charges against senior Ministry officials .
1.10.09 HPCL rejected Ashok Singh’s appeal also and modified R.P.Srivastava’s order from dismissal from service to “removal from service” hence no bar on future employment.
23.04.10 Ashok singh & Srivastava filed their writ petition in Mumbai High Court Nos. 2106&2207 respectively against their order of Removal from Service.
19.8.2010 CBI in their report found the CBI complaint by us was correct and MOP&NG issued advisory to all OMC Chairmen to be cautious in future procurements .
7.9.2010 Writ Petitions of R.P.Srivastava & Ashok Singh admitted in Mumbai High Court
22.11.2010 Shri shri Prakash Director MOP&NG admitted in a RTI reply to R.P.Srivastava that Ministry is still investigating the Marker case.
19.1.2011 Murli Deora removed from Ministry of Petroleum
Bench:-Bombay
________________________________________
Lodging No.:- WPL/990/2010 Filing Date:- 23/04/2010
________________________________________
Petitioner:-
Respondent:-
Petn.Adv.:-
District:- MUMBAI
________________________________________
Bench:- DIVISION
Status:- Admitted Category:- WRIT PETITION (TAX)
Last Date:- 07/09/2010 Stage:- WRIT PETITION FOR ADMISSION
Last Coram:- HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE D.K. DESHMUKH
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE N.D. DESHPANDE
________________________________________
Act :- Service Matter
________________________________________
________________________________________
Lodging No.:- WPL/990/2010 Filing Date:- 23/04/2010
________________________________________
Petitioner:-
Respondent:-
Petn.Adv.:-
District:- MUMBAI
________________________________________
Bench:- DIVISION
Status:- Admitted Category:- WRIT PETITION (TAX)
Last Date:- 07/09/2010 Stage:- WRIT PETITION FOR ADMISSION
Last Coram:- HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE D.K. DESHMUKH
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE N.D. DESHPANDE
________________________________________
Act :- Service Matter
________________________________________
[TO BE PUBLISHED IN GAZETTEOF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION(i)]
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
ORDER
New Delhi, the 12th January 2007
GSR.19(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order further to amend the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993, namely:-
1. (1) This Order may be called the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Amendment Order, 2007.
(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993(herein after referred to as the said order), in clause 2,-
(i) after item (g), the following shall be inserted, namely:-
‘(ga) “marker” means a chemical substance approved by the Central Government from time to time for blending in kerosene and other petroleum products with the objective of preventing their diversion or adulteration of motor spirit or high speed diesel and other petroleum products’;
(ii) after item (k), the following shall be inserted, namely:-
‘(ka) “test kit” means a set of equipment used to determine the presence of marker in kerosene, motor spirit, high speed diesel and other petroleum products’; .
(3) In the said order, after clause 8, the following clause shall be inserted, namely: -
“8A. Kerosene to be blended with marker – All kerosene sold in India, whether under the public distribution system or parallel marketing system, shall be blended with marker at five parts per million (ppm) concentration with the objective of preventing its diversion or adulteration of other petroleum products.”
(4) In the said order, in clause 9, in sub clause (a), in item (iii), after the word “procedures” the following shall be added, namely:-
“draw and test samples of the product with the aid of test kit to determine blending of marker in kerosene.”.
[File No.P-11013/5/2006-Dist]
(D.N. NARASIMHA RAJU)
JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Note: The principal Order was published to the Gazette of India vide GSR 584(E) dated the 2nd September, 1993 and subsequently amended vide
(1) GSR 509(E) dated the 19th June, 1995
(2) GSR 126(E) dated the 8th March, 1996
(3) GSR 638(E) dated the 21st October, 1998
(4) GSR 105(E) dated the 22nd February, 2001
(5) GSR 405(E) dated the 6th July, 2006
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
ORDER
New Delhi, the 12th January 2007
GSR.19(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order further to amend the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993, namely:-
1. (1) This Order may be called the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Amendment Order, 2007.
(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993(herein after referred to as the said order), in clause 2,-
(i) after item (g), the following shall be inserted, namely:-
‘(ga) “marker” means a chemical substance approved by the Central Government from time to time for blending in kerosene and other petroleum products with the objective of preventing their diversion or adulteration of motor spirit or high speed diesel and other petroleum products’;
(ii) after item (k), the following shall be inserted, namely:-
‘(ka) “test kit” means a set of equipment used to determine the presence of marker in kerosene, motor spirit, high speed diesel and other petroleum products’; .
(3) In the said order, after clause 8, the following clause shall be inserted, namely: -
“8A. Kerosene to be blended with marker – All kerosene sold in India, whether under the public distribution system or parallel marketing system, shall be blended with marker at five parts per million (ppm) concentration with the objective of preventing its diversion or adulteration of other petroleum products.”
(4) In the said order, in clause 9, in sub clause (a), in item (iii), after the word “procedures” the following shall be added, namely:-
“draw and test samples of the product with the aid of test kit to determine blending of marker in kerosene.”.
[File No.P-11013/5/2006-Dist]
(D.N. NARASIMHA RAJU)
JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Note: The principal Order was published to the Gazette of India vide GSR 584(E) dated the 2nd September, 1993 and subsequently amended vide
(1) GSR 509(E) dated the 19th June, 1995
(2) GSR 126(E) dated the 8th March, 1996
(3) GSR 638(E) dated the 21st October, 1998
(4) GSR 105(E) dated the 22nd February, 2001
(5) GSR 405(E) dated the 6th July, 2006
MARKER CASE
Adulteration in the motor fuels (Petrol& Diesel) has been a menace for MOP&NG since a very long time, precisely due to artificially keeping low price of Kerosene .Price of PDS kerosene has not been revised for more than a decade to keep the vote bank of BPL users intact by respective governments, such artificially low price has made adulteration of motor fuels like petrol/diesel with this PDS Kerosene a lucrative trade. Late Manjunath Sales officer of Indian oil was murdered while checking adulteration at a Petrol pump in U.P.
Government tried several methods to curb it, and colored (blue dyed)PDS kerosene , anti adulteration drives were carried out but adulteration kept flourishing due to the differential of kerosene price and rising price of motor fuels. By a study of NCEAR it was established that 38% of Kerosene is diverted and used for adulteration by Petrol/diesel pump owners with the support of transporters and even oil company officials.
MOP&NG formed a committee of Top oil company officials and sent them abroad to study and suggest a suitable Marker , which can detect adulteration in motor fuels, such ‘markers’ are used in south Africa, Malaysia and many other countries to check adulteration due differential pricing or subsidized fuel etc. Committee finally zeroed down on few suppliers of markers , out of which M/s Authentix was hand picked by ministry officials for supplying marker to oil marketing companies IOC/BPC/HPC , such decision was taken without even conducting a Pilot study. Oil companies were advised to procure the marker from Indian agents of above supplier M/s SGS Ltd on a single offer basis. There was such a tearing hurry to implement marker system that no formulation, specification , chemical composition or Environment impact was studied /verified or compared. MOP&NG even amended the MDG( Marketing discipline guidelines) to empower the private company personnel to check /Inspect Retail outlets for the presence of marker (adulterated by marker doped kerosene), across the country.
Then secy. Petroleum ordered the oil companies in July 2006 to implement the Marker system expeditiously and oil companies placed purchase orders in Aug. 2006. The inauguration and Public demonstration of Marker system was carried out by Minister of Petroleum Sh. Murli Deora, Secy. Petroleum M.S. Srivnivasan , Dealers Association President shri, Ashok Badhwar, local MP Sh.. Sajjan kumar on 4.10.2006 at Indian oil’s Bijwasan Terminal, Initial order by oil companies was placed for 1 year till Sept 2007for approx. Rs. 100 crore .
Oil sector Officer’s Association convener Ashok Singh and coordinator R.P.Srivastava were approached by Marketing officers of oil companies and complained that Petrol pump owners were subjected to Extortion by the Private company SGS in the name of inspection /checking of Marker .OSOA mandated one leading Advocate of Mumbai to obtain all procurement details of Marker system in Nov. 2007 through RTI while the supply contract of Marker was extended for 6 months i.e up to March 2008, after initial denial even by MOP&NG , advocate received all the information in May 2008.
Ashok singh & Srivastava made a formal complaint to Joint Director CBI, Mumbai in May 2008, in a quick retaliation Ashok Singh was promptly suspended within 4 days of filing the complaint by implicating him into a false charge, they both approached CVC(central vigilance commissioner) personally in June, July& Aug. 2008 , for whistle blowers protection, which was declined and all their correspondence was shared with HPCL Management who swiftly removed Srivastava’s all assistance, evicted from his office and made to sit under stair case, his perquisites were stopped and even deducted salary. MOP&NG ordered oil companies to extend the contract of SGS till Dec. 2008 and total Marker worth Rs. 200 crore was purchased all on single offer.
PIL no. 60 was filed in Mumbai High Court in June 2008 by a social activist Sh. Simpreet singh , which was decided in Oct. 2008 , Hon’ble Mumbai High court ordered CBI to investigate whole Marker scam and ordered MOP&NG separately to conduct enquiry by Ministry’s Vigilance dept.One Indian express report in Oct 2008 confirmed that the Marker was removable/launderable by ordinary clay.HPCL looking for some excuse to remove Srivastava who was suspended in Jan 2009 , again by falsely implicating him into OSOA’s strike from 7-9th Jan. 2009, HPCL had incidentally not participated in that strike , and himself was on duty during the strike days. In the meantime MOP&NG abruptly advised all oil companies to stop marker doping w.e.f Jan 2009 without assigning any reason.
Times of India report in June 2009 , confirmed that HPCL ‘s own R&D advisor had confirmed as early as in Jan. 2005 that the Marker is carcinogenic in nature (could cause cancer in human being).Finally CBI filed a PE in Marker case in April 2009 against then Secy Petroleum , SGS, Authentix and unknown oil company officials .According to CNN-IBN News on 21st sept 2009 , CVC has also ordered CBI to conduct enquiry against Senior Petroleum ministry officials , News also confirmed that Authentix was already a black listed company abroad with the name “Biocode” Marker was purchased at the price of Rs. 13000 per ltr. and there was no basis for procuring marker at such an exorbitant price
Ashok Singh & Srivastava were removed from services of HPCL in March 2009. Srivastava was evicted from company accommodation in Aug 2009 after facing insult and humiliation by HPCL management for 15 months . This is all done by HPCL who claim themselves to be Model Employers being a Govt. of India undertaking, Claiming themselves pioneers in the field of HR for their HR practices like Emotional Intelligence/Performance Management , competence mapping etc. etc.
Despite High court/CVC orders no visible action appears to have been taken by CBI?
Public admission by CVC in the news item of Indian Express of 30th Dec. 2009 , that corruption has reached at the highest level in the Government and specially mentioned the Names of Ministry of Petroleum , power and others and how long people of this country will continue to pay artificially high price of fuel and subscribe to the govt. propaganda that OMC’s are losing so many crores every day and add to the prosperity of corrupt officials and adulterators?
Adulteration in the motor fuels (Petrol& Diesel) has been a menace for MOP&NG since a very long time, precisely due to artificially keeping low price of Kerosene .Price of PDS kerosene has not been revised for more than a decade to keep the vote bank of BPL users intact by respective governments, such artificially low price has made adulteration of motor fuels like petrol/diesel with this PDS Kerosene a lucrative trade. Late Manjunath Sales officer of Indian oil was murdered while checking adulteration at a Petrol pump in U.P.
Government tried several methods to curb it, and colored (blue dyed)PDS kerosene , anti adulteration drives were carried out but adulteration kept flourishing due to the differential of kerosene price and rising price of motor fuels. By a study of NCEAR it was established that 38% of Kerosene is diverted and used for adulteration by Petrol/diesel pump owners with the support of transporters and even oil company officials.
MOP&NG formed a committee of Top oil company officials and sent them abroad to study and suggest a suitable Marker , which can detect adulteration in motor fuels, such ‘markers’ are used in south Africa, Malaysia and many other countries to check adulteration due differential pricing or subsidized fuel etc. Committee finally zeroed down on few suppliers of markers , out of which M/s Authentix was hand picked by ministry officials for supplying marker to oil marketing companies IOC/BPC/HPC , such decision was taken without even conducting a Pilot study. Oil companies were advised to procure the marker from Indian agents of above supplier M/s SGS Ltd on a single offer basis. There was such a tearing hurry to implement marker system that no formulation, specification , chemical composition or Environment impact was studied /verified or compared. MOP&NG even amended the MDG( Marketing discipline guidelines) to empower the private company personnel to check /Inspect Retail outlets for the presence of marker (adulterated by marker doped kerosene), across the country.
Then secy. Petroleum ordered the oil companies in July 2006 to implement the Marker system expeditiously and oil companies placed purchase orders in Aug. 2006. The inauguration and Public demonstration of Marker system was carried out by Minister of Petroleum Sh. Murli Deora, Secy. Petroleum M.S. Srivnivasan , Dealers Association President shri, Ashok Badhwar, local MP Sh.. Sajjan kumar on 4.10.2006 at Indian oil’s Bijwasan Terminal, Initial order by oil companies was placed for 1 year till Sept 2007for approx. Rs. 100 crore .
Oil sector Officer’s Association convener Ashok Singh and coordinator R.P.Srivastava were approached by Marketing officers of oil companies and complained that Petrol pump owners were subjected to Extortion by the Private company SGS in the name of inspection /checking of Marker .OSOA mandated one leading Advocate of Mumbai to obtain all procurement details of Marker system in Nov. 2007 through RTI while the supply contract of Marker was extended for 6 months i.e up to March 2008, after initial denial even by MOP&NG , advocate received all the information in May 2008.
Ashok singh & Srivastava made a formal complaint to Joint Director CBI, Mumbai in May 2008, in a quick retaliation Ashok Singh was promptly suspended within 4 days of filing the complaint by implicating him into a false charge, they both approached CVC(central vigilance commissioner) personally in June, July& Aug. 2008 , for whistle blowers protection, which was declined and all their correspondence was shared with HPCL Management who swiftly removed Srivastava’s all assistance, evicted from his office and made to sit under stair case, his perquisites were stopped and even deducted salary. MOP&NG ordered oil companies to extend the contract of SGS till Dec. 2008 and total Marker worth Rs. 200 crore was purchased all on single offer.
PIL no. 60 was filed in Mumbai High Court in June 2008 by a social activist Sh. Simpreet singh , which was decided in Oct. 2008 , Hon’ble Mumbai High court ordered CBI to investigate whole Marker scam and ordered MOP&NG separately to conduct enquiry by Ministry’s Vigilance dept.One Indian express report in Oct 2008 confirmed that the Marker was removable/launderable by ordinary clay.HPCL looking for some excuse to remove Srivastava who was suspended in Jan 2009 , again by falsely implicating him into OSOA’s strike from 7-9th Jan. 2009, HPCL had incidentally not participated in that strike , and himself was on duty during the strike days. In the meantime MOP&NG abruptly advised all oil companies to stop marker doping w.e.f Jan 2009 without assigning any reason.
Times of India report in June 2009 , confirmed that HPCL ‘s own R&D advisor had confirmed as early as in Jan. 2005 that the Marker is carcinogenic in nature (could cause cancer in human being).Finally CBI filed a PE in Marker case in April 2009 against then Secy Petroleum , SGS, Authentix and unknown oil company officials .According to CNN-IBN News on 21st sept 2009 , CVC has also ordered CBI to conduct enquiry against Senior Petroleum ministry officials , News also confirmed that Authentix was already a black listed company abroad with the name “Biocode” Marker was purchased at the price of Rs. 13000 per ltr. and there was no basis for procuring marker at such an exorbitant price
Ashok Singh & Srivastava were removed from services of HPCL in March 2009. Srivastava was evicted from company accommodation in Aug 2009 after facing insult and humiliation by HPCL management for 15 months . This is all done by HPCL who claim themselves to be Model Employers being a Govt. of India undertaking, Claiming themselves pioneers in the field of HR for their HR practices like Emotional Intelligence/Performance Management , competence mapping etc. etc.
Despite High court/CVC orders no visible action appears to have been taken by CBI?
Public admission by CVC in the news item of Indian Express of 30th Dec. 2009 , that corruption has reached at the highest level in the Government and specially mentioned the Names of Ministry of Petroleum , power and others and how long people of this country will continue to pay artificially high price of fuel and subscribe to the govt. propaganda that OMC’s are losing so many crores every day and add to the prosperity of corrupt officials and adulterators?
ALL ABOUT MARKER A NEWS ITEM FROM INDIANPETRO.COM
Reply
ravi srivastava
show details 1/1/09
Marker issue come to an end
31st December, 2008 It seems the government has decided not to renew
an agreement with Authentix to ferret out marker-blended kerosene used
for adulterating diesel and petrol. The two-year deal has been given
a quiet burial on December 31, 2008.
So has the market system, introduced for the first time in the
country, been successful? Prior to introduction of the marker
programme, the government estimated approximately a third of kerosene
was illegally diverted. Since the launch of the programme,
international third party certification agency, SGS, which was
mandated with the task of inspecting more than 175,000 retail outlets
across India, positively identified more than 950 sites with
adulterated fuel which subsequently either have been either shut down
or remained under investigation.
There are many who were critical of the marker based
anti-adulteration programme. They claimed that the hit rate was very
low compared to the scale of adulteration across the country.
But apologists for programme were of the view that the threat of
detection brought down the level of adulteration in the country. "The
increased threat of capture has meant that many more retailers have
ceased illicit activities and remain ?on alert? that they can be
caught and punished and subsequently the catch rate has fallen from
40-60 sites per month to 15-20 sites caught per month. The high strike
rates of 2.8% for retail sites and 0.5% for retail audits and
subsequent closures can be attributed to the robust marker technology
that enables detection at very low levels of adulteration together
with the expert testing skills of more than 250 trained SGS auditors,"
sources close to SGS told this website.
Background:
The Marker Programme was launched in October 2006 by the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas to identify and control diversion of
subsidized kerosene intended for the underprivileged from the PDS
(Public Distribution System) to road fuel.
Prior to the Marker Programme the Government estimated approximately a
third of kerosene was illegally diverted although only a few sites
were caught adulterating. Since the Marker Programme, SGS has
inspected more than 175,000 retail outlets across India and positively
identified more than 950 sites with adulterated fuel which
subsequently either have been either shut down or remain under
investigation. As the Marker Programme became more successful, the
increased threat of capture has meant that many more retailers have
ceased illicit activities and remain ?on alert? that they can be
caught and punished and subsequently the catch rate has fallen from
40-60 sites per month to 15-20 sites caught per month.
The high strike rates of 2.8% for retail sites and 0.5% for retail
audits and subsequent closures can be attributed to the robust marker
technology that enables detection at very low levels of adulteration
together with the expert testing skills of more than 250 trained SGS
auditors.
The Marker Programme has received formal acknowledgement and
significant praise for successfully identifying malpractice,
increasing road fuel sales, reducing diversion of kerosene and as a
consequence increasing kerosene to the poor.
?Up to the end of this year, the programme remains on track, retail
sites are getting caught and when proved guilty terminated by the
OMC?s and there is high overall commitment of the Ministry and OMC?s
to punish those involve in this illegal activity? commented SGS
Director Sundip More,
?We are grateful to have been part of the success of the marker
Programme and particularly the achievement of increasing PDS kerosene
to the poor. In readiness for the new tender, Authentix will continue
to upgrade and enhance the components in our multi-layered suit of
marker technologies to ensure we deliver improved performance for the
new Programme?. said Lal Pearce, Authentix, Executive Vice President.
Free rein to adulterators soon
NEW DELHI, Dec. 29: The innovative "marker" system, which had been
implemented two years back by the UPA government to check the Rs 5,000
crore worth diversion of public distribution scheme kerosene for auto
fuel adulteration, is being given a quiet burial on 31 December.
An indication in this regard was given when a ministry spokesman said
that ?no official decision has been taken on its continuation?. Ms
Cari J Weinberg, spokesperson for Authentix, the current British
supplier of the marker, confirmed this. ?Our contract will expire on
31 December, 2008. It has not been renewed so far,? she said.
The scheme, launched in October 2006, provided for introduction of a
permanent marker in kerosene on an all India basis. If the
marker-blended kerosene is used for adulterating auto fuels ~ diesel
or petrol ~ it can easily be detected through a visual test procedure
using a special testing kit. With the marker?s presence, adulteration
even with very low levels of kerosene can be detected.
The system was introduced after the murder of a Lucknow-based Indian
Oil Corporation official, Shanmugham Manjunath in November 2005 after
he conducted a surprise raid at a petrol pump selling adulterated
fuel, an episode that shook the nation and highlighted the menace of
the oil mafia.
The government?s decision has come as a surprise to many including
those working in the NGO sector, who have been waging a battle against
the oil mafia. In fact, the petroleum ministry had assured the Mumbai
High Court only in September that it would complete the tendering
process for continuation of marker system on permanent basis by 31
December.
According to Shama Khan, president of Sahara Kalyan Samiti, an NGO
working in the resettlement colonies, the government?s decision, even
if temporary, will open the flood gates for diversion of PDS kerosene.
?We have observed definite improvement in the availability of PDS
kerosene after the introduction of the marker system?, she said.
According to ministry sources, some sections of unscrupulous petroleum
dealers and transporters, were lobbying hard to get the order amended
permanently or at least make a fast buck while the process for a fresh
tender is on.
A study in 2005 sponsored by the petroleum ministry had found that
38.6% of PDS kerosene meant for the poor was being diverted, among
other things, to adulteration of transport fuels.
HC notice to govt on marker system abolition
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Dec. 30: A vacation bench of the Delhi High Court has
issued notice to the petroleum ministry and oil marketing companies
(OMCs) on the move to abolish the kerosene "marker system" by 31
December. They have been asked to reply by 7 January 2009.
The court notice came after a public interest litigation (PIL) by an
NGO challenging the government's decision to go ahead with this move
which the petitioner said would hurt the interest of the common man.
The petition was filed following reports that the government "planned
to give the scheme a quiet burial" and the petitioner said the
decision of the government was "a surprise to many including those
working in the NGO sector, who have been waging a battle against the
oil mafia". The scheme was launched in October 2006 and provided for
the introduction of a permanent marker in kerosene on an all-India
basis which was to be carried out by OMCs at their terminals and
depots.
The petroleum ministry had assured the Mumbai High Court in September
that it would complete the tendering process for continuation of the
marker system on permanent basis by 31 December this year.
The petitioner said that if the marker system is removed, it would led
to adulteration of auto fuels which would not only damage automobiles
but also have adverse environmental impact.
The 'marker' system was introduced by the government after the brutal
killing of Shanmugham Manjunath, a Lucknow-based Indian Oil
Corporation official, after he conducted a surprise raid at a petrol
pump in Lakhimpuri Kheri selling adulterated fuel in November 2005.
The UPA government had launched this scheme with much fanfare in 2007
to check the Rs 5,000 crore worth diversion of public diversion scheme
(PDS) kerosene for auto fuel adulteration
About SGS
The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection,
verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS
is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With
more than 53`000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1?000
offices and laboratories around the world.
About Authentix
Authentix is the global leader in authentication and provides brand
protection solutions for the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, consumer,
tobacco, spirits, and agrochemical industries, as well as fiscal tax
recovery and security services for governments worldwide
Reply
ravi srivastava
show details 1/1/09
Marker issue come to an end
31st December, 2008 It seems the government has decided not to renew
an agreement with Authentix to ferret out marker-blended kerosene used
for adulterating diesel and petrol. The two-year deal has been given
a quiet burial on December 31, 2008.
So has the market system, introduced for the first time in the
country, been successful? Prior to introduction of the marker
programme, the government estimated approximately a third of kerosene
was illegally diverted. Since the launch of the programme,
international third party certification agency, SGS, which was
mandated with the task of inspecting more than 175,000 retail outlets
across India, positively identified more than 950 sites with
adulterated fuel which subsequently either have been either shut down
or remained under investigation.
There are many who were critical of the marker based
anti-adulteration programme. They claimed that the hit rate was very
low compared to the scale of adulteration across the country.
But apologists for programme were of the view that the threat of
detection brought down the level of adulteration in the country. "The
increased threat of capture has meant that many more retailers have
ceased illicit activities and remain ?on alert? that they can be
caught and punished and subsequently the catch rate has fallen from
40-60 sites per month to 15-20 sites caught per month. The high strike
rates of 2.8% for retail sites and 0.5% for retail audits and
subsequent closures can be attributed to the robust marker technology
that enables detection at very low levels of adulteration together
with the expert testing skills of more than 250 trained SGS auditors,"
sources close to SGS told this website.
Background:
The Marker Programme was launched in October 2006 by the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas to identify and control diversion of
subsidized kerosene intended for the underprivileged from the PDS
(Public Distribution System) to road fuel.
Prior to the Marker Programme the Government estimated approximately a
third of kerosene was illegally diverted although only a few sites
were caught adulterating. Since the Marker Programme, SGS has
inspected more than 175,000 retail outlets across India and positively
identified more than 950 sites with adulterated fuel which
subsequently either have been either shut down or remain under
investigation. As the Marker Programme became more successful, the
increased threat of capture has meant that many more retailers have
ceased illicit activities and remain ?on alert? that they can be
caught and punished and subsequently the catch rate has fallen from
40-60 sites per month to 15-20 sites caught per month.
The high strike rates of 2.8% for retail sites and 0.5% for retail
audits and subsequent closures can be attributed to the robust marker
technology that enables detection at very low levels of adulteration
together with the expert testing skills of more than 250 trained SGS
auditors.
The Marker Programme has received formal acknowledgement and
significant praise for successfully identifying malpractice,
increasing road fuel sales, reducing diversion of kerosene and as a
consequence increasing kerosene to the poor.
?Up to the end of this year, the programme remains on track, retail
sites are getting caught and when proved guilty terminated by the
OMC?s and there is high overall commitment of the Ministry and OMC?s
to punish those involve in this illegal activity? commented SGS
Director Sundip More,
?We are grateful to have been part of the success of the marker
Programme and particularly the achievement of increasing PDS kerosene
to the poor. In readiness for the new tender, Authentix will continue
to upgrade and enhance the components in our multi-layered suit of
marker technologies to ensure we deliver improved performance for the
new Programme?. said Lal Pearce, Authentix, Executive Vice President.
Free rein to adulterators soon
NEW DELHI, Dec. 29: The innovative "marker" system, which had been
implemented two years back by the UPA government to check the Rs 5,000
crore worth diversion of public distribution scheme kerosene for auto
fuel adulteration, is being given a quiet burial on 31 December.
An indication in this regard was given when a ministry spokesman said
that ?no official decision has been taken on its continuation?. Ms
Cari J Weinberg, spokesperson for Authentix, the current British
supplier of the marker, confirmed this. ?Our contract will expire on
31 December, 2008. It has not been renewed so far,? she said.
The scheme, launched in October 2006, provided for introduction of a
permanent marker in kerosene on an all India basis. If the
marker-blended kerosene is used for adulterating auto fuels ~ diesel
or petrol ~ it can easily be detected through a visual test procedure
using a special testing kit. With the marker?s presence, adulteration
even with very low levels of kerosene can be detected.
The system was introduced after the murder of a Lucknow-based Indian
Oil Corporation official, Shanmugham Manjunath in November 2005 after
he conducted a surprise raid at a petrol pump selling adulterated
fuel, an episode that shook the nation and highlighted the menace of
the oil mafia.
The government?s decision has come as a surprise to many including
those working in the NGO sector, who have been waging a battle against
the oil mafia. In fact, the petroleum ministry had assured the Mumbai
High Court only in September that it would complete the tendering
process for continuation of marker system on permanent basis by 31
December.
According to Shama Khan, president of Sahara Kalyan Samiti, an NGO
working in the resettlement colonies, the government?s decision, even
if temporary, will open the flood gates for diversion of PDS kerosene.
?We have observed definite improvement in the availability of PDS
kerosene after the introduction of the marker system?, she said.
According to ministry sources, some sections of unscrupulous petroleum
dealers and transporters, were lobbying hard to get the order amended
permanently or at least make a fast buck while the process for a fresh
tender is on.
A study in 2005 sponsored by the petroleum ministry had found that
38.6% of PDS kerosene meant for the poor was being diverted, among
other things, to adulteration of transport fuels.
HC notice to govt on marker system abolition
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Dec. 30: A vacation bench of the Delhi High Court has
issued notice to the petroleum ministry and oil marketing companies
(OMCs) on the move to abolish the kerosene "marker system" by 31
December. They have been asked to reply by 7 January 2009.
The court notice came after a public interest litigation (PIL) by an
NGO challenging the government's decision to go ahead with this move
which the petitioner said would hurt the interest of the common man.
The petition was filed following reports that the government "planned
to give the scheme a quiet burial" and the petitioner said the
decision of the government was "a surprise to many including those
working in the NGO sector, who have been waging a battle against the
oil mafia". The scheme was launched in October 2006 and provided for
the introduction of a permanent marker in kerosene on an all-India
basis which was to be carried out by OMCs at their terminals and
depots.
The petroleum ministry had assured the Mumbai High Court in September
that it would complete the tendering process for continuation of the
marker system on permanent basis by 31 December this year.
The petitioner said that if the marker system is removed, it would led
to adulteration of auto fuels which would not only damage automobiles
but also have adverse environmental impact.
The 'marker' system was introduced by the government after the brutal
killing of Shanmugham Manjunath, a Lucknow-based Indian Oil
Corporation official, after he conducted a surprise raid at a petrol
pump in Lakhimpuri Kheri selling adulterated fuel in November 2005.
The UPA government had launched this scheme with much fanfare in 2007
to check the Rs 5,000 crore worth diversion of public diversion scheme
(PDS) kerosene for auto fuel adulteration
About SGS
The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection,
verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS
is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With
more than 53`000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1?000
offices and laboratories around the world.
About Authentix
Authentix is the global leader in authentication and provides brand
protection solutions for the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, consumer,
tobacco, spirits, and agrochemical industries, as well as fiscal tax
recovery and security services for governments worldwide
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