The association urged the NCSC to expedite investigations into the complaints lodged by SC dealers to ensure timely justice.

In a related development, PPDA highlighted that Kerala’s SC/ST Pump Owners had given a call to stage a one-day hunger strike in recent times outside HPCL’s Mumbai office to protest the termination of SC/ST dealerships, indicating that such issues may extend beyond Punjab.

To address these concerns, PPDA has demanded a high-level judicial or administrative inquiry into the conduct of HPCL officials involved in these cases. An independent audit of all records, financial transactions, and official correspondence related to the affected SC dealerships. Strict disciplinary action against officials found guilty of document suppression, evidence tampering, or procedural deviations.Rajesh Kumar warned that, in the absence of prompt corrective measures, PPDA would launch a statewide protest campaign to highlight the challenges faced by SC petroleum dealers and seek national attention.

Rajesh Kumar urged the Punjab & Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognizance, highlighting that as a PSU, HPCL’s actions reflect a systematic exclusion of SC category dealerships.