JUDGMENT

The petitioner is aggrieved with the selection of the

4th respondent for supply of un-skilled labourers as notified in Exhibit P1, along with supply of highly skilled, skilled and semi-skilled workers.

2. Exhibit P1 notification was brought out by the 1st respondent, inviting tenders for supply of highly skilled, skilled, semi-skilled and un-skilled workers. The petitioner, admittedly, applied only under the “un-skilled category”. The 4th respondent was chosen for all the categories as notified in Exhibit P1. The challenge in the writ petition is confined to that of the award of the contract for supply of unskilled workers to the 4th respondent.

3. The petitioner's contention against the selection of the

4th respondent is two-fold; that (i) an un-skilled worker, as per the notification issued by the Government of Kerala, has to be paid a minimum wage of Rs.420/- for each day's work and the 4th respondent had quoted only Rs.350/- per day; while the petitioner had quoted Rs.439/-, in excess of the minimum wages prescribed by the Government; and (ii) the 4th respondent has not deposited the required Earnest Money Deposit [EMD]. A computation is made in page 3 of the memorandum of