ORDER :

This writ petition has been filed to declare the tender cum auction conducted by the third respondent as null and void and for a consequential direction to the respondents to conduct a fresh auction to grant license for collecting fees in the daily shandy and weekly shandy.

2. The third respondent issued a tender notice to issue license for collecting fees in the daily shandy and weekly shandy, through proceedings dated 03.02.2021. It is seen from this notification that the participant must take a demand draft for a sum of Rs.10 lakhs and submit the tender documents on or before 23.02.2021 before 5.00 p.m. The auction was slated to be held on 24.02.2021.

3. According to the petitioner, he had taken the requisite demand draft and submitted the bid before the third respondent at about 4.30 p.m. on 23.02.2021. The grievance of the petitioner is that the third respondent for reasons best known refused to receive the tender documents and the demand draft and therefore, the petitioner gave a representation on the spot to the third respondent. The third respondent gave a writte