G RAMESHWAR RAO Vs. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner as well as the respondent in writ petition at the interlocutory stage and the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal at their request.

(2.) The petitioner filed this writ petition for issuance of writ of mandamus to declare the proceedings of the General Manager, Telecom Warangal Area, Hanamkonda in No. TAW/ED-16N/1999 2000/5, dated 1-6-1999 as illegal and arbitrary and without jurisdiction. With regard to the cable tenders of Nalgonda Telecom District, it is informed in the said proceedings that approval of the General Manager Telecom, Warangal Area is hereby conveyed for awarding cable trench digging of reinstatement works of Nalgonda SSA to the four tenders i.e., the petitioner and respondents 5 to 7 at the negotiated rates as indicated in the enclosure upto the estimated quantity of 350 KMs.

(3.) It is the contention of the petitioner that the Telecom District Manager, Nalgonda, invited tenders in his proceedings NO.Z1/UG cables/98-99/100 dated 30-3-1999 in sealed covers on behalf of the President of India for digging trenches, laying of under ground cables/recovery of cables and reinstatement works in Nalgonda District. The approximate work involved for digging and laying underground cables for all types of cables will be 500 KMs. The cost of the tender schedule is Rs.520/- and 17 contractors purchased tender schedules but only 7 contractors submitted the sealed covers within prescribed time i.e., by 21-4-1999 and the 4th respondent opened the same on 21-4-1999. The information furnished by the 7 contractors in their bids has been sent to the Tender Evaluation Committee for evaluation and the petitioner's bid is the lowest among all and while he was expecting that his bid would be accepted, the impugned letter has been communicated which has been questioned in this Writ Petition.