M. Y. EQBAL, J.

( 1 ) ALL these writ petitioners are aggrieved by the award of a contract passed by the respondent-Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd. an instrumentality of the State of Jharkhand in favour of five contractors namely, M/s. Rungta Projects Ltd. , M/s. Chanani Transport, M/s. Globe Roadways (P) Ltd. , M/s. Naween Transport Company and M/s. B. K. B. Transport (P) Ltd.

( 2 ) THE contract pertains to transportation of coal from different collieries to Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd. The Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd. is a Thermal Power Station, which is operated mainly by use of coal. The coal is supplied to the aforesaid Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd. by certain collieries of Central Coalfields Ltd. On 17-8-2001 notice inviting tender was floated by the Nigam for transportation of coal by road for a period of one year from the collieries of Central Coalfields Ltd to Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (in short Nigam) by NIT No. 3/tvnl/ranchi/2001. The nature of work was transportation of coal from collieries of Central Coalfields Ltd. i. e. Parej East Open Cast Project, Kedia Open Cast Project, Pundi, Tapin South, Tapin North, Kedla Washery etc. to Tenughat Thermal Power Station. The estim