INDO ENGINEERING WORKS Vs. RASHTRIYA ISPAT NIGAM LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present batch of writ appeals has been preferred against the common judgment and order dtd. 26/4/2022, passed by the learned single Judge in writ petition Nos.27829 of 2021 and batch. By virtue of the judgment and order impugned, the writ petitions filed by the petitioners/Rastriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)/respondent No.1 herein were allowed.

(2.) The writ petitions were filed by RINL challenging the jurisdiction of the Andhra Pradesh Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, to entertain claims filed by the appellants under the Micro, Small and Medium Industries Development Act, 2006 (hereinafter called as "the Act").

(3.) The appellants are Micro and Small Enterprises engaged in manufacturing and fabrication activities. They entered into various contracts with RINL, Visakhapatnam. Disputes having arisen between the parties regarding payment, the appellants herein filed claims before the Facilitation Council, in terms of Sec. 18 of the Act. RINL challenged the jurisdiction of the Facilitation Council to entertain those claims in writ petitions before the learned single Judge. The main contentions raised before the learned single Judge were: