Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, C.J.

These two writ petitions are filed by the National Federation of Farmer Procurement Processing and Retailing Cooperative of India Limited, which was the successful bidder for supplying Chana in terms of the invitations of offers issued by the 2nd Respondent - Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "the Corporation").

2. These two writ petitions are filed challenging the decision of the Corporation to encash the two Earnest Money Deposits (hereinafter collectively referred to as 'the EMD') made by the Petitioner for the two contracts to supply Chana and to blacklist it for a period of three years.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the Petitioner, the learned counsel for the 2nd Respondent and the learned Additional Advocate General for the State.

4. Writ Petition (C) No. 1606 of 2017 relates to supply of 25,932 Metric Tonnes of Chana in Bastar, Beejapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dhamtari, Balod, Gariyaband and Rajnandgaon area for the period from April, 2017 to March, 2018 (both inclusive) and Writ Petition (C) No. 1608 of 2017 relates to supply of 20,088 Metric Tonnes of Chana in Bila