RAM BABU KUMAR Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the State.

(2.) The matter has been taken up for admission on the mentioning of Mr. S.B.K. Manglam, learned advocate for the petitioners, expressing urgency in the matter as a fresh notice inviting tender, according to the petitioners, has been issued without consideration of the claim / offer of the petitioners.

(3.) It appears from the records that a notice inviting tender was issued by the District Transport Committee of Muzzafarpur of which the District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur is the Chairman, for entering into contract with a successful bidder for transportation for "Door Step Delivery System" under the Bihar Targeted Public Distribution System. The petitioners, who had participated in the aforesaid tender were found to have offered the lowest rate and an agreement with them was concluded for four years. Another notice inviting tender was floated in the year 2018 in which the petitioners were ranked at L-3. The contract with L-1 was concluded but for some reasons or the other, the tenderer with the lowest rate did not carry out the transportation work. Under the aforesaid circumstances, the petitioners were asked to continue with their work of transportation under the "Door Step Delivery System" as transporters on the rate which was offered and accepted by Transport Committee under the 2014 agreement. The petitioners made a representation before the concerned authorities for allowing them to perform at the rate offered by L-2.