NELA NIANGTI Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The grievance raised in this writ petition is in respect of settlement of Jowai Country Spirit shop with the respondent No. 6 for the period from 25.8.2003 to 24.8.2006.

(2.) A notice of sale of licence for the aforesaid excise liquor shop by auction by teder- cum lump sum system was issued on 10.7.2003 for the period from 25.8.2003 to 24.8.2006. The last date of submission of tenders was fixed as 12.8.2003 at 1 P.M. The tenders were to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Jaintia Hills, Jowai. Be it stated here that the maximum rate was fixed at Rs. 42,750/- and the minimum at Rs. 36,675/- for settlement of the country spirit shop.

(3.) In response to the said notice, altogether 13 tenders were submitted including the one submitted by the petitioner. According to the petitioner, she alongwith other tenderers appeared before the Tender Committee on 12.8.2003 and the tender box was opened in their presence. However, after counting of the same, the Committee directed the tenderers to leave the room and they were not allowed to see and record the rates quoted by different tenderers. According to her, she: awaited till 5 RM. alongwith other tenderers and at around 5.15 P.M., the respondent No. 6. who was also a tenderer was invited inside the room by the Committee and after sometime, he came out from the room and left the office premises. The petitioner and other tenderers after waiting for sometime and without knowing anything left the office premises.