PURUSOTTAM LAL SAROJ Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) All these writ petitions have been filed by the petitioners challenging the order dated 18.07.2008 as contained in Annexure-4 by which the respondent-state of Jharkhand had passed an order for cancellation of the bids for settlement of liquor for sale by the retailers in six districts, namely, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Koderma, Chatra, Garhwa and Palamau on the ground that if the bids of the candidates of the aforementioned districts who are the petitioners herein are accepted, the same would affect the revenue of the State of Jharkhand and in addition it has also been stated in the order that as no offer had been made from the districts of Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ranchi for settlement of liquor for sale by the retailers ,the entire bidding process and acceptance of the bids from other districts in the State of Jharkhand by the Deputy Commissioner and approved by the Excise Commissioner shall stand cancelled and a fresh bid would be invited for settlement of the liquor for sale in the entire State of Jharkhand.

(2.) The petitioners in all these writ petitions are admittedly the successful bidders for sale of liquor through retailers by virtue of a settlement process which took place In between 20-06.2008 to 24.06.2008 and they being the highest bidders, their offer was accepted by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district and same was forwarded to the Excise Commissioner for acceptance and approval.

(3.) It is stated that before the bids could be accepted finally by the Excise Commissioner, who is the final authority for acceptance, the impugned order dated 18.07.2008 vide Annexure-4 was issued containing the direction indicated here-in-before.