STATE OF U.P. vs DAULAT RAM GUPTA

The Supreme Court addressed whether the State government or Licensing Authority could refuse the renewal of licenses for petty diesel dealers if their business premises were located within a five-kilometer radius of a government-run retail outlet. The issue centers on the validity of such restrictions under the U.P. High Speed Diesel Oil and Light Diesel Oil (Maintenance of Supplies and Distribution) Order, 1981. The court examined the scope of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the delegated powers of the licensing authority in regulating the distribution of essential fuels.