JUDGMENT

W.A. Nos. 1568, 1577 & 1589 of 2020]

SHAJI P. CHALY, J.

The above appeals are filed by the Chief Conservator of Forests and the other forest officials challenging the common judgment of the learned single Judge dated 16.11.2020 in W.P.(C) Nos. 24241, 24075, and 22944 of 2020, whereby the learned single Judge allowed the writ petitions and held that cancellation of earlier tender and the action of retendering the same work again is illegal and uncalled for, and accordingly the order dated 12.10.2020 and re-tender notification dated 31.10.2020 were set aside and it was further declared that the petitioners in W.P.(C) Nos. 24075 and 24241 of 2020, who have been granted renewal of licence, should be treated as qualified to participate in the earlier tender pursuant to the renewal of their A class licence. Consequently, the appellants were directed to proceed with the e- tender dated 25.05.2020 and award the work to the eligible tenderer at the earliest. It is, thus, challenging the legality and correctness of the said judgment, the appeals are filed.

2. Brief material facts for the disposal of the appeals are as follows:

The Divisional Forest Officer, Konni issued an order dated 12