JUDGMENT :

A.S. Chandurkar, J.

RULE. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. The challenge raised in this writ petition is to the order dated 02.03.2021 passed by the Food Corporation of India (for short, FCI) terminating the contract that was issued to the petitioner for transportation of foodgrains from Hoshangabad (Madhya Pradesh) to Badnera (Maharashtra) as well as from Hoshangabad to Dhamangaon (Maharashtra) for a period of two years. Besides such termination of the contract, the earnest money deposited by the petitioner has been forfeited. The petitioner has also been debarred from participating in any future tender of the FCI for a period of five years. The grievance raised by the petitioner against the aforesaid order was considered by the Grievance Redressal Committee constituted by the FCI and the same was also rejected on 28.05.2021. That order is also under challenge in this writ petition.

3. The facts relevant for adjudicating the writ petition are that on 13.10.2019 a tender notice was issued by the FCI inviting bids for transportation of foodgrains from Hoshangabad (MP) to Badnera(MS) and Hoshangabad (MP) to Dhamangaon(MS). The bi