JUDGMENT :

A.S. BOPANNA, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The appellants in eleven of these appeals are the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. (“OFDC Ltd.” for short) and the State of Odisha is the appellant in two other appeals. The appeals filed by the State of Odisha relate to the same orders in respect of the same private respondents who were the writ petitioners regarding whom the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. has also filed the appeal. Further, though separate orders passed by the High Court in different writ petitions relating to various petitioners are assailed in all these appeals, the issue involved is the same. Hence all these appeals were clubbed, heard together and are accordingly disposed of by this common judgment. For the purpose of narration of facts, the case as in Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No.17627/2019, titled Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. vs. M/s Anupam Traders & Anr. is taken note, which reads as hereunder.

3. The appellant OFDC Ltd. issued an e-tender notification dated 22.11.2016 inviting offers online from intending purchas