ORDER:

The petitioner challenges the award dated 14.07.2021 in Case No.21C/IFC/2018/5318 passed by the Andhra Pradesh Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council / 2nd respondent directing the petitioner to pay principal amount of Rs.84,45,275/- with interest to 7th respondent herein on the ground that principles of natural justice are violated inasmuch as the 2nd respondent Council declined to receive the statement of defence of the writ petitioner and thereby the petitioner is severely prejudiced.

2. The petitioner’s case succinctly is thus :

The petitioner Corporation is a nodal agency working under the aegis of Education, Minorities, B.C. Welfare and Social Welfare Department and engaged in construction and procurement of infrastructure etc., for its user departments. In that process, the petitioner short-listed the 7th respondent for supply of furniture items to various Government Polytechnic Colleges in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Agreements were entered into by the petitioner with 7th respondent. While so, the 7th respondent approached the 2nd respondent Council under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (for short ‘MSMED Act’) for conciliation an