JUDGMENT :

Rajasekhar Mantha, J.

1. By a notice inviting tender sometime in May-June, 2021, the Indian Oil Corporation invited bids for road transportation of bulk petroleum products by Bottom Loading Tank Trucks from Jharsuguda Terminal. The writ petitioner submitted its bid on 25th July, 2021 offering 15 Tank Trucks.

2. In September, 2021 the IOCL sent diverse techno-commercial queries to and sought clarifications from the petitioner, inter alia, asking for documents like NOC for Tank Trucks already deployed for the benefit for IOC, PESO Certificate and a Board Resolutions. The petitioner supplied the said documents.

3. By an e-mail dated 2nd November, 2021 the petitioner was informed that its technical bid was accepted by the Technical Evaluation Committee. In a tender summary report published on 4th November, 2021, it was notified that the petitioner’s technical bid was accepted and was placed at serial No. 15. By a further communication dated th November, 2021 the petitioner was asked to participate in the financial part of the bid i.e. reverse auction for the Jharsuguda Terminal.

4.