Inadvertent Upload of Wrong Document Page in Dealer Selection Application is a Curable, Rectifiable Defect

The Petitioner applied for a Rural Retail Outlet dealership under Group-1 (owners/long-term lessees) following an advertisement by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The Petitioner had executed a registered lease deed on 22.09.2023 for 20 years.

When submitting the online application on 24.09.2023, she inadvertently uploaded a discarded draft page of the deed which stated the lease would commence on 01.04.2024 (a future date).

On 05.11.2023, the Respondent (IOC) rejected her candidature as a Group-1 candidate on the grounds that she did not possess leasehold rights on the date of application.

The Petitioner filed a representation and subsequently this writ petition, producing the original lease deed which confirmed the actual commencement date as 22.09.2023.

1. Whether the inadvertent uploading of an incorrect page of a registered lease deed constitutes a non-rectifiable deficiency justifying the rejection of a Group-1 candidature.

2. Whether the Petitioner satisfied the eligibility criteria of holding a long-term lease as on the date of application.

Clause 23 of the Selection Brochure, which lists non-rectifiable deficiencies such as the inability to change the "group" of land declared.

Clause 4(vi)(b) regarding the 21-day window for amending lease agreements.

The core legal principle applied is that inadvertent clerical or uploading errors in documents do not constitute substantive eligibility failures if the underlying original registered document (verified under mandatory scrutiny procedures) satisfies the criteria.

The Court found that the Respondent's rejection was based solely on the incorrectly uploaded document.

Upon reviewing the affidavit from the Senior Sub-Registrar and inspecting the original lease deed, the Court verified that the lease actually commenced on 22.09.2023, prior to the application date of 24.09.2023.

The Court reasoned that Clause 23 of the Brochure does not list "wrongly uploading a document" as a non-rectifiable defect.

Since the Brochure mandates physical verification of original documents, the Court held that the error was a curable, inadvertent mistake rather than a lack of eligibility.

The Respondent’s refusal to consider the Petitioner’s representation despite the existence of a valid, registered original deed was deemed a misconception of the guidelines.

The Court held that the defect was curable and directed Respondent Nos. 1, 2, and 3 to re-evaluate the Petitioner’s application as a Group-1 candidate by taking the original registered lease deed dated 22.09.2023 into account.

The interim stay on allotment was vacated to allow the selection process to proceed with the Petitioner’s inclusion.