P. RAVISHANKAR Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In both these writ petitions, the petitioner challenges the validity and legality of the Tender Summary Reports dtd. 23/6/2021 relating to the works under Dharmapuri Package Nos.59 and 60 respectively issued by the first respondent. He also seeks a consequential direction to the first respondent to call for fresh tenders in respect of the said works in compliance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998 (for brevity, 'the Act') and the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000 (for brevity, 'the Rules').

(2.) The petitioner claims himself to be a Taluk Level Class I Civil Contractor registered with the Highways Department in Dharmapuri District for the works above the value of Rs.75.00 lakhs and he possesses the experience of over 10 years in the field of civil construction contracts, including Government contracts.

(3.) According to the petitioner, the first respondent issued Tender Notice No.27/2020-2021/SDO dtd. 22/2/2021 inviting percentage bids under two cover system through on-line for the works viz., Package No.59 (upgradation of Panchayat and Panchayat Union Roads (5 works), Package No.60 (upgradation of Panchayat and Panchayat Union Roads (5 works) and Upgradation of Panaiyur to Neithalur Natchalur Road Km 0/3-3/3. As per the said tender notification, the last date for submission of bids was indicated as 29/3/2021 at 11.00hours. Subsequently, the election to the Sixteenth Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly, 2021 was announced by the State Election Commission on 26/2/2021, as a result of which, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on the same day i.e., 26/2/2021. Pursuant to the same and also due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the State of Tamil Nadu, the date for submission of the bids and the date for opening the same were postponed by issuing Corrigendum 1 to 5 by the first respondent.