(1.) Heard Sri P. Sai Surya Teja, learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader for Energy for the 1st respondent and Sri V. R. Reddy Kovvuri, learned standing counsel for the respondents 2 and 3.
(2.) The petitioner is the sole proprietor of PMR Associates which is an unregistered firm. Claiming to be qualified and willing to apply for tender, issued by the 3rd respondent-the Superintendent Engineer (SE), Kadapa Operation Circle, Andhra Pradesh State Power Distribution Corporation Limited (for short, "APSPDCL"), Kadapa pursuant to the tender invitation vide a specification REV.No.15/2022-23 of Superintending Engineer Operation/Kadapa inviting for tenders for Scanning, Printing and Serving of Spot bills in consumer premises LT Category I, Category II and Category IV (Excluding High Value, Agriculture Services) with GPRS enabled Spot Billing Machines with/without IR/IRDA Port readings wherever IRDA port compatible meters existing indifferent EROs existing in Kadapa District for the period from 1/4/2023 to 31/3/2024, the petitioner has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for a writ of Mandamus, for declaration that is the condition No.2 and condition No.19 in the tender invitation notice are illegal and arbitrary which deserve to be quashed.
(3.) Condition No.2 of the tender invitation notice is as follows: