K KASILINGAM Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE attempt of a local body to award the State largesse to a chosen few, at the cost of public revenue, is the sum and substance of the issue which arises for determination in these two Writ Petitions.

(2.) THE petitioner challenges the Resolution No.122 dated 22.10.2010 on the file of the Devakkottai Municipality and the consequential orders of allotment, whereby and whereunder the bids submitted by the respondents 4 to 11 for allotment of the shops in the newly constructed shopping complex of the Municipality were accepted.

(3.) THE said Writ Petition was taken up by this Court on 22 October 2010 and an interim stay of confirmation was issued indicating that the stay would be in operation, in case there was no confirmation till 01.15 p.m. THE order was communicated to the Municipality by wire. However, the second respondent received several demand drafts from respondents 4 to 11 even after 03.00 p.m., on 22.10.2010 and hurriedly concluded the matter. Even though electricity supply was not given to the shops, records were created as if possession was given on 22.10.2010 itself, after collecting the rent for a period of six months. THE Municipal Council passed a resolution bearing No.122 on 22.10.2010, confirming the bids submitted by respondents 4 to 11 and consequential orders of allotment were issued on the very same day allotting the shops to the successful bidders. Feeling aggrieved by those proceedings, the petitioner has filed the Writ Petition in W.P.(MD)No.13584 of 2010.