This writ petition seeks to quash the tender notification No. 5 of 1994 dated 7-5-1994 issued by the 2nd respondent and consequently to direct the 1st respondent to call for fresh tenders and award the work in question to the lowest bidder.

2. The material allegations in the supporting affidavit by the petitioner are as follows:- He is a registered contractor under class I category with the National Highways Department throughout the State. The 2nd respondent floated the tender in the above referred to notification for purposes of two works under the National Highways Circle, Tirunelveli and Madurai-2 respectively. As per the said notification tender documents have to be received from the 1st respondent from 13-6-1994 to 21-6-1994, on paying a sum of Rs.3, 000/- towards tender cost and Rs.173/- towards sales tax in the treasury account. The petitioner intended to participate in the said tender pertaining to Item No. 1 of the tender notification and paid the tender cost in the treasury account on 16-6-1994 and approached the 1st respondent on 16-6-1994 itself for receiving the tender schedules. However, the 1st respondent refused to issue the tender schedules and stated t