JUDGMENT :

RAJESH SHANKAR, J.

1. Both these writ petitions have been filed for issuance of direction upon the State Government to proceed with the second round of auction in accordance with the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the Rules 2015’) as amended by Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2017 (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the Rules 2017’).

W.P. (C) No. 5069 of 2021:

2. The brief facts as stated in the writ petition is that the State of Jharkhand issued Notice Inviting Tender (in short ‘NIT’) on 30.10.2019 inviting bids in order to carry out e-auction for granting mining lease of Dudhapat Toli, Nathpur, Salgi and Chulhamati Bauxite Block having concession area of 322.859 acres in which the last date for sale of tender documents was fixed as 18.11.2019. Pursuant to the issuance of tender document a pre-bid conference of the bidders was held on 03.12.2019 wherein the queries were responded thereto and published by the Government on 10.12.2019. The petitioner no. 1 purchased the tender document on 08.11.2019 and submitted its bid on 13.12.2019, however, subsequent to the first round of auction, the State Government vide notice dated 27.01.2020 decided to