In Brief
A company's dealership with Indian Oil Corporation was terminated. The company challenged this in the High Court, arguing an excessive pre-deposit fee was unlawful. The High Court initially sided with the company but later, in contempt proceedings, ordered that the appeal be decided by a panel that had since been abolished under new guidelines. On appeal to the Supreme Court, the Court set aside the contempt order as it had lost legal relevance: the appellate forum had been lawfully changed, so the company had no right to insist on the defunct panel hearing it. The appeal was allowed and contempt proceedings closed.
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