Top Section
Explore Business Standard
Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.
A parliamentary panel has flagged the possibility of individuals operating petrol pumps in the name of SC and ST applicants due to certain changes made in the allocation guidelines and has asked the Centre to direct oil marketing companies to conduct regular "surprise inspections" to check such "benami operations". In its report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the panel raised questions over the changes made in the guidelines post 2014 and came down heavily on the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for giving its approval. The panel noted that the ministry had itself reduced its stature to that of "a mere rubber stamp" by giving "full autonomy" to public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) in the matter. During the inspection, the committee recommended, the proof of ownership, caste certificate and office accounts/ledgers bearing signature, payment details in account and the owners' name be examined "impromptu" with mandatory presence of the owners to establish authenticity of