Onkar Lal Bajaj etc. etc. vs Union of India & Anr. etc. etc.

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of the Government of India's order dated 9th August 2002, which cancelled all allotments of retail outlets, LPG distributorships, and SKO-LDO dealerships made since 1st January 2000 based on recommendations from Dealer Selection Boards (DSBs). The Court emphasized the need for a transparent and objective selection process to prevent arbitrary allotments influenced by political connections, referencing the precedent set in Common Cause v. Union of India [(1996) 6 SCC 530]. The Court upheld the cancellation of tainted allotments while ensuring that those made on merit were preserved, reinforcing the principles of fair play and non-arbitrariness in public sector dealings.