JUDGMENT

[1] Heard Shri M. Devananda, learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner while Shri Ng. Jotindra Luwang, learned Advocate appearing for the private respondent and Shri Niranjan Sanasam, learned Government Advocate appearing for the State respondents.

[2] The validity and correctness of the work order dated 19-07-2019 is under challenge in this writ petition and a prayer has been made by the petitioner to direct the respondents to issue the work order, in respect of the work under package No.MNO 2171, to him as per the Clause 27.1 (i) & (ii) of the Standard Bidding Documents.

[3.1] The petitioner is a contractor by profession who had undertaken many contract works in the past by executing them to the satisfaction of the authorities in the Department. The Central Government through Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has been providing funds to the State Governments including the State of Manipur since 2001 for construction of roads in rural areas towards development of roads and rural connectivity under the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (hereinafter referred to as “the PMGSY”). Since its inception, the phases I-V of the scheme were executed b