ORDER :

(Ujjal Bhuyan, J.)

1. Heard Mr. J.Prabhakar, learned Senior Counsel representing Ms. D.Venkata Padmaja, learned counsel for the petitioner. We have also heard Mr. H.Venugopal, learned Government Pleader for Industries and Commerce Department for respondent No.1; Mr. Gollakota Satya Jagannat, learned counsel for respondent No.3; and Mr. P.Govind Reddy, learned Special Counsel representing State of Andhra Pradesh (respondent Nos.5 & 6).

2. By filing this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioner has prayed for setting aside of the award dated 03.11.2022 passed by the Telangana State Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, Ranga Reddy Region (briefly referred to hereinafter as ‘the Facilitation Council’) in Case No.236/MSEFC/2020.

3. Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is a statutory Government of India enterprise and acts as a facilitator to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (briefly referred to hereinafter as ‘MSMEs). Petitioner is not a supplier within the meaning of Section 2(n) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (briefly referred to hereinafter as ‘the MSME Act’). As a facili