A.V.Kathir vs Union Of India & Ors.

(Order of the Court was made by C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.)

The writ petition has been filed in the nature of a Mandamus, seeking a direction against respondents to install functional Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the outlets of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited along the Madurai-Tenkasi road to be run by the inmates of the Central Prison, Madurai, Central Prison, Palayamkottai and the Central Prison, Trichy, including the Special Prisons for Women at Palayamkottai and Trichy.

We had directed status reports to be filed. Accordingly, the 7^th and 8^th respondents have filed status reports giving the list of retail outlets and their working status. It is seen that out of 12 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, as on date, 7 are functional and the rest would also become functional by March 2027. A report has also been filed by the 9^th respondent/Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, wherein, it had been stated that there are 9 Retail Outlets with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, out of which, 8 are fast chargers and one is a slow charger. Out of the 9 electric vehicle charging stations, 7 are in working condition which included 5 fast chargers and one slow charger and 2 are in maintenance and would be made functional by 31.10.2026.

The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Chennai, had also filed a report, wherein, he had stated that G.O(Ms)No.82, Home (Prison-III) Department dated 13.02.2025 had been passed granting permission for establishment of alternate energy facilities, particularly, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and CNG Stations at Petrol Retail Outlets functioning within the prison premises. It had also been stated that at present, necessary action is being pursued for establishment of EV charging facilities at Freedom Filling Station Petrol Retail Outlets at Central Prison, Madurai, Central Prison, Palayamkottai and Central Prison, Trichy. The facilities will be established subject to technical feasibility and other conditions prescribed by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. It had been further stated that once necessary sanctions are granted for operation of the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, the same would be made functional.

It is thus seen that positive steps have been initiated by both the Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to establish Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and we hope that they would pursue the issue diligently and ensure that all these charging stations established by them are made functional. We also appreciate the stand taken by the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services who had also taken up the issue in a positive manner and once sanctions are obtained, we are confident that such charging stations would be established in the Freedom Filling Station run by the prison inmates at Madurai, Tirunelveli and Trichy.

Learned counsel for the Indian Oil Corporation Limited stated that near the Central Prisons at Madurai and Palayamkottai, steps would be taken to establish Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and that at Trichy, there is one charging station which is already in existence within a distance of 2.25 kilometres.

Recording as above, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.