( 1 ) IN the instant case, the learned Counsel appearing for the opposite parties prefaced his submission with a preliminary objection about lack of territorial jurisdiction of this Court and it is in this perspective that we are called upon to dispose of the preliminary objection as a prologue to delving into the submissions on merits of the writ petition. Accordingly, the hearing in the matter was circumscribed to the moot question about territorial jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

( 2 ) A synoptical resumption of the relevant facts necessary to appreciate the moot question raised across the bar, may be set out and they are that the Divisional Manager, Central Railways with its Head Office stationed at Jabalpur invited applications from respectable and experienced caterers vide advertisement dated 10-11-1996 (Annexure 2 to the writ petition) for grant of catering contract in respect of Manikpur Railway Station, that the petitioner and opposite party No. 3 were amongst the applicants for grant of Theka appertaining to Manikpur Railway Station for which interview was held on 24-2-1997 at Jabalpur and in the ultimate analysis, the dec