V. Purushotham Rao vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the arbitrary allotment of petroleum and LPG dealerships by the Minister of Petroleum, emphasizing the need for guidelines to regulate such discretionary powers under Article 14 and Article 32 of the Constitution. The Court held that the allotments made to 15 individuals were arbitrary, discriminatory, and mala fide, leading to their cancellation. The Court also directed the concerned minister to explain why criminal proceedings should not be initiated against him for breach of trust and other offenses, thereby reinforcing the principle of accountability in public office.