Honble JAIN, J.—These four cross appeals, by special leave, are directed against two judgments and orders, both dated 3.3.1999, rendered by the High Court of Judicature Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Appeals No.2206-2207 of 1996 and 236-237 of 1998. The State of Andhra Pradesh, the first defendant in the suit and plaintiff, namely, M/s. Pioneer Builders, Engineers and Contractors, Hyderabad, hereinafter referred to as "the contractor" are the appellants before us. Since the factual matrix and the questions of law involved in all the appeals are common, these are being disposed of by this judgment. However, we shall refer to the facts of Civil Appeal No.6115/1999 as illustrative.

2. Sometime in the year 1988, the Superintending Engineer, Srisailam Right Branch Canal (for short "SRBC"), defendant No.2 in the Suit, issued notice inviting tenders from pre-qualified bidders of eligible source countries, which included India, for the work of excavation, lining and construction of structures of SRBC. It was a time bound project supported by credit loans from the International Development Association and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

3. The tender of the contractor b

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