V KRISHNAMURTY Vs. GENERAL MANAGER, WESTERN RAILWAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr Gehani for the Petitioner and Ms Masurkar for the Respondents.

(2.) By this Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the Petitioner, conducting business as the sole proprietor in the name and style of Meena Advertisers, challenges an order dated 12th April 2019 at Exhibit "S" at page 204 issued by the Divisional Railway Manager (Commercial), Mumbai Central. By the impugned order, the Divisional Railway Manager disapproved the new locations for commercial advertisement hoardings proposed by the Petitioner at Mahalaxmi Station.

(3.) The Respondents issued a Bulk Tender dated 1st November 2018 inviting bids for bulk advertising rights at Mahalaxmi to Prabhadevi Stations for a period of five years. The Petitioner was one of the bidders. His bid was accepted on 14th January 2019. On 28th January 2019, the Respondents issued a certificate confirming the bulk advertising rights granted to the Petitioner for five years for Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel and Prabhadevi Stations. The initial area covered was 5760 sq ft at all three stations combined. The Petitioner then applied for a change in location/dimension/upgrading of the sites. This was approved and the area allotted to the Petitioner was revised from 5760 to 6952 sq ft by a letter dated 8th February 2019.