JUDGMENT

Santosh Hegde, J.-Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Leave granted.

2. In this appeal the appellant questions the correctness and legality of the judgment of the High Court of Gauhati dated 28.1.2003 made in Writ Appeal No. 710/2002 confirming the judgment dated 7.11.2002 made by the learned Single Judge of the same High Court at Shillong Bench in W.P. (C) No. 355 (SH)/2002. The facts necessary for the disposal of this appeal are as follows:

3. The State of Meghalaya owns a weigh bridge at Morkjniange which it had decided to lease out to contractors who were willing to take it on lease on yearly basis. For the said purpose it issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) from interested persons for operating the said weigh bridge. Pursuant to the said notification number of tenderers offered their bids. On 11.2.2002, the respondent-State accepted the bid of one Smt. Nila Niangti, respondent No. 5 herein, which was for a sum of Rs. 1.21 crores and the contract was settled in her favour. One of the bidders who participated in the said tender challenged the said acceptance of the bid before the High Court in W.P. No. 34(SH) of 2002, inter alia, on the ground that the said acceptance