By IANS,
Bhopal : The Madhya Pradesh government Wednesday asked oil companies for an explanation on complaints of dealers being forced to sell certain brands of petroleum products.
“The state government had been receiving complaints that dealers were being compelled to sell extra mile diesel and extra premium petrol which costs much higher despite the fact that these branded petroleum products were neither different from the refinery products nor were they certified by the Indian Bureau of Standardisation,” said an official statement.
The state government, the statement said, is of the view that supply of motor spirit and high speed diesel by the oil companies and compelling common consumers to purchase costly branded products amounted to profiteering.
“Since no separate licence has been obtained for the sale of branded products from the district collectors, it also amounted to unauthorised sale. Besides, it also constituted hindering the supply of essential commodities, which is a penal offence under the Essential Commodities Act”.
Petroleum Multipurpose Dealers Association also lodged a complaint that the dealers in Sehore district and two retailers from Sehore and Bilkisgang were being compelled to sell extra mile diesel and extra premium petrol.