JUDGMENT

M.I.Arun, J. - By consent of learned counsel for the parties, the matter is taken up for final hearing.

2. Heard Sri K.N.Phanindra, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri Prabhuling K.Navadgi, learned Advocate General appearing for respondent nos.1 to 4 and Sri Ashok Haranahalli, learned Senior Counsel appearing for respondent no.6.

3. Aggrieved by the rejection of its bid to take respondent no.5-factory on lease, the petitioner has preferred this Writ Petition.

4. The case of the petitioner is that bids were invited for selection of private persons to take on lease fifth respondent's sugar factory, on rehabilitate, operate and transfer (LORT) basis. The petitioner being duly qualified applied for the same. The tender was on two cover basis i.e. technical bid and the financial bid had to be enclosed in two separate covers. The technical bid would be opened first and only upon the bidder being duly qualified after the evaluation of his technical bid, the financial bid would be opened. The opening of technical bid was fixed on 04.06.2020 and the financial bid was to be opened on 05.06.2020. Respondent no.6 also had made a bid for the same. The representative