Judgment:

Alok Aradhe, J.

1. In this writ petition, the petitioner, inter alia, seeks quashment of acceptance of single offer of respondent No. 4 for grant of licence to sell country and foreign liquor as well as order dated 10-3-2014 passed by the Deputy Secretary. The petitioner also seeks a direction to respondent Nos. 1 to 3 to open the financial bid of the petitioner to grant licence to him as he is the highest bidder. In order to appreciate the petitioners' grievance, few facts need mention, which are stated infra. The petitioner and respondent No. 4 submitted their tenders for obtaining licence in respect of country liquor and foreign liquor retail shop situated at Khandali, District Narsinghpur. The petitioner offered a bid of Rs. 3,59,00,000/- (Rupees Three crores fifty nine lacs) whereas the respondent No. 4 submitted an offer of Rs. 3,51,00,000/- (Rupees Three crores fifty one lacs). The petitioner alongwith his tender form submitted a demand draft of Rs. 43.50 lacs towards earnest money. The bid was submitted in two parts. When the first part of the bid was opened, the petitioner was informed that Part I of the bid submitted by the petitioner does not contain an endorseme