S. THANGAPPAN Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Public Interest Litigation is filed to challenge the tender floated by the fourth respondent on 25/7/2022 by the petitioner claiming to be a person involved in politics rendering service to the society.

(2.) The petitioner was the councilor of the 6th Ward of Mettur Municipality elected in the local body election held in the year 2011 as the candidate sponsored by AIADMK. He is said to be the Joint Secretary of MGR Mandram, Mettur Town which is affiliated to the political party of AIADMK. The petitioner's annual income is said to be Rs.72,000.00 and it is averred that he has paid Rs.10,000.00 towards professional fees for filing this writ petition which is filed in public interest. We appreciate that the petitioner has fairly stated about his involvement in politics and that he is a member of AIADMK, a political party.

(3.) The petitioner has challenged the tender notice dtd. 25/7/2022 mainly in regard to the condition of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) which is said to be more than 1% of the total value of the work as it is in violation of Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules 2000 (hereinafter referred to as Rules). Though the petitioner is not a participant in the tender process, he claims to be espousing the cause of the public as the tender condition may affect the public exchequer and the petitioner being a public spirited person, has filed the present writ petition.