AGARWALA, J. :- These are two connected appeals from a judgment of a learned single Judge of this Court upon petitions presented under Art. 226 of the Constitution. The facts briefly stated are these.

2. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Vindhya Pradesh invited sealed tenders for the sale of lac and lac products in the forests belonging to that state. In the notice it was stated that the tenders were to be submitted by the end of January 1952. The appellant firm which carries on business at Mirzapur submitted tenders on 31-1-1952. The tenders were opened the same day and the appellants tenders were accepted by the Divisional Forest Officer of Vindhya Pradesh.

One of the terms announced at the time of the opening of the tenders was that 25% of the price shall be deposited on the acceptance of the tender and the balance was to be paid within one month.

The tenders were in respect of eight lots, six of Umaria division, one of Rewa division and one of Ghhatturpur division. The price of the six lots of Umaria division was Rs. 3,29,959/6/- and the price of the lot of Chhatturpur division was Rs. 7,022/8/-, As we are not concerned with the Rewa lot, it is not necessary to mention a