(1.) As the issue involved in all the aforementioned petitions is same, therefore, these shall stand admitted and disposed "of by this common order.
(2.) Facts for the disposal of these petitions have been taken from OWP No. 771/06. Respondent-Union of India invited sealed tenders vide tender notice dated 14th of May 2006, from flour mills registered with MGASC Headquarters Northern Command for lifting of wheat from FCI depots, grinding into atta, purchase of bran, refraction and used wheat bags, transportation of atta and bran by road transport to nominated Military stations in J & K and Pathankot from 1st of August, 2006 to 31st of July, 2007. As per the tender notice, the mills were required to be located in close vicinity of the Nodal depots i.e. RHSD Pathankot, FSD BD Bari, FSD Srinagar and FSD Leh, so that there could be proper supervision of the grinding process. The date of opening of the tender for first call was fixed on 8th of June, 2006 and for re-tender calls, if any, it was fixed for 22nd of June, 2006, 6th of July, 2006 and 20th of July, 2006.
(3.) Petitioner-flour mills are registered with MG ASC Headquarters Northern Command, as such, besides the tender notice, a letter of information was also sent to the petitioner-flour mills from Mukhyalaya Uri Command, Headquarters Northern Command, C/o 56 APO, vide which the petitioner-firm were informed about the proposed tenders. The petitioner-firms in response to the said tender notice submitted their tenders for grinding and transportation for 15 and 16 Corps. The tenders were opened on the due date by a panel of officers i.e. respondents 2 to 4. As per the comparative statement prepared by the panel of officers, petitioner No. 1 was found to be the lowest tenderer for 15 Corps and the petitioner No. 2 was declared the lowest tenderer for 16 Corps respectively. So far as contract for 14 Corps is concerned, the respondent No. 6-New Jammu Flour Mill was found to be the lowest tenderer and the same has been allotted to the said firm.