FARIDA KHANOM Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. PK Munir, Mr. AM Ahmed, Mr. FU Borbhuiya, Mr. MK Boro, Mr. R Ali, Mr. B Rahman, Mr. S Borthakur, Mr. DA Kaiyum, Mr. MK Hussain, the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the petitioners in the present batch of writ petitions. Also heard Mr. K Konwar, the learned Additional Advocate General, Assam, who is also the Standing Counsel of the P& RD Department, Government of Assam. In addition to that, on behalf of the P and RD Department, Mr. S Dutta appears. Mr. AK Ghose, Mr. A Sarma and Mr. MU Mahmud, the learned counsels appear on behalf of the private respondents in the batch of writ petitions.

(2.) The instant batch of writ petitions were filed challenging the Notificationdtd. 29/6/2024 issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, P and RD Department whereby the process of settlement of Haats, Ghats, Fisheries, Pounds etc. for the year 2024-25 for which various Notice Inviting Tenders were floated were cancelled on the basis of a decision of the Cabinet decision dtd. 27/6/2024. In addition to that, in some of the writ petitions, the Cabinet decision dtd. 27/6/2024 had also been assailed. The petitioners herein who have been intimated that they are the highest bidders have also sought for a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent authorities to bring the tender process to a logical conclusion by allowing them to run the settlements.

(3.) For deciding the dispute(s) involved in the batch of writ petitions, this Court would like to deal with the facts which led to the filing of the batch of writ petitions.