JUDGMENT :

1. The petitioner is the existing contractor who has been providing cleaning and housekeeping staff to the Midnapore Medical College & Hospital in Paschim Medinipore, West Bengal. The respondent no. 7, i.e., the Medical Superintendent of the said hospital published a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) (2nd call) inviting bids for cleaning/scavenging/housekeeping services from bona fide interested bidders to provide 208 workers and one supervisor totalling to 209, for three years subject to renewal at the end of each year on satisfactory performance by bidders. The petitioner participated in the said NIT No.2075 dated February 24, 2024 and was one of the L-1 bidders. The authority cancelled the tender vide order dated June 7, 2024 on the following ground:-

“After opening the price bid and the final evaluation of the e-Tender process for Housekeeping & Scavenging at MMC& H, Paschim Medinipur, the Tender Inviting Authority, as per e-file No. HFW-38099(11)/121/2024-MC SEC Deptt. Of H&FW and computer no. 945474, has decided unanimously to cancel the e-Tender process vide NIT No. MSVP/Mid/e-Tender/NIT/2075 dated 24.02.2024 due to submission of the null & negative bid value by the bidd