S.K.PRADHAN Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, a Class 1A Contractor, has challenged the order dated 18th August, 2001 passed by the Respondent -Engineer -in -Chief, Public Works (Road Construction) Department (for short PWD Roads), Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi, whereby and whereunder, he has been black listed.

(2.) THE case of the petitioner is that he was registered as Class 1A Contractor with PWD (Roads) with Registration No. 251/85 and since then he has been working as such satisfactorily as a Class 1A contractor. He had been working even prior to that as a Contractor of other categories in this Department as also various other Departments of the State.

(3.) FURTHER case of the petitioner is that because of anti - social elements and the area having infested with M.C.C. and Naxalite supporters, he represented the State to provide security vide letters dated 23rd May, 2000 and 20th December, 2000. Subsequently, the work was started. A meeting of senior officers of the Department took place on 18th December, 2000 in which petitioner also attended to discuss the work progress. The Minister in -charge of the Department inspected the road on 26th December. 2000. On such date, the Minister declared on the site that he has black listed the petitioner, which statement was also published in the local newspaper, vide Annexure 7 series. It is only thereafter, a show cause -notice was issued to the petitioner on 14th March, 2001 to which petitioner replied denying the allegations. whereinafter the impugned order dated 18th August, 2001 was issued by the Engineer -in -Chief, PWD (Roads), Govt. of Jharkhand. Ranchi, blacklisting the petitioner.