Heard Mr. A. Chowdhury learned Senior Counsel assisted by Ms. Barnali Chowdhury, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General of India assisted by Mr. K. Gogoi, learned CGC and Mr. N. Anix Singh, learned Standing Counsel for the IRCTC.

2. The challenge made in this writ petition is to the Commercial Circular No. 24/2023 dated 14.11.2023, issued by the respondent Railway Board, Ministry of Railway, Government of India, New Delhi whereby paragraph No. 3 of Catering Policy 2017, has been superseded by providing stringent eligibility conditions for awarding of catering contract.

3. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner No. 1 has been empanelled since the year 2018, as a catering service provider for railway in IRCTC and as on date the petitioner No. 1 is providing on board services in 20 Mail Express Trains of the Indian Railways including Train No. 19305-06 DADN-KYQ Express (Dehradun-Kamrup Express). Over the years the petitioner no. 1 has emerged as a serious player in the catering business of the Indian railways and due to satisfactory delivery of the petitioner no. 1 services, the petitioner no. 1 has reached ‘M-1’ categor