Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed major oil companies—IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL—to submit counter-affidavits detailing whether their dealership agreements require toilets at fuel stations to be accessible to the public. During the hearing, counsels for HPCL and BPCL informed the court that while dealership agreements may not explicitly mention public access, the Marketing Discipline Guidelines do include a clause allowing use of toilets by "transiting travellers," which naturally includes the general public.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society and five petroleum retailers opposing attempts by the state and local bodies to convert petrol pump toilets into public toilets.

Justice C S Dias extended the interim order issued on June 17, which had restrained such conversions, by one more week. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also been impleaded in the case, which will be heard next on August 12.
(With LiveLaw inputs)

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