A bidder's failure to identify the site and machineries for inspection, as required for mandatory certificates, justifies rejection of the technical bid under tender conditions.

ORDER

The writ petition has been filed seeking for a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records of the impugned order passed by the first respondent in tender ID 2025-HWAY-604010-1 dated 25.10.2025 and to quash the same and consequently, direct the first respondent to accept the bid of the petitioner in tender ID 2025-HWAY-604010-1.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner is a certified Engineering contractor. The first respondent issued e-tender notice dated 04.09.2025 for Lumpsum (Two Cover System), e-tenders were invited for widening single lane to intermediate lane and strengthening at Km 2/8–6/2 of Semmanahalli – Ariyakulam road including widening of Culvert at Km 3/10 (SLM-84). The tender required bidders to personally inspect the work site and obtain the Work Site Inspection Certificate and the Working Condition of plants & Machineries Certificate from the second respondent, which were mandatory pre qualification documents. Applications for issuance of these certificate were to be submitted to the second respondent on or before 15.10.2025 upto 17.45 hrs and the certificates has to be issued by the 2^nd respondent on or before 22.10.2025 upto 17.45 hrs.

3. It is the further case of the petitioner that the petitioner sent applications dated 11.10.2025 and 13.10.2025 to the 2^nd respondent requesting to issue Work Site Inspection Certificate and the Working Condition of plants & Machineries Certificate to the petitioner and the same has not been considered. Therefore, the tender application of the petitioner was rejected by the 2^nd respondent vide the impugned order dated 25.10.2025, stating that the bidder has not furnished the eligibility criteria as per Tender Notice. Hence, the petitioner has filed the above said writ petition.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner made application for issuance of Work Site Inspection Certificate and the Working Condition of plants & Machineries Certificate to the second respondent before the last date for submitting the same and it is the duty cast upon the Divisional Engineer/second respondent to depute concerned official to inspect the site and after inspection of the site, to issue the required certificates to the petitioner. However, the respondent has not visited the petitioner site and refused to issue the certificates within the prescribed time and on the sole ground, the petitioner’s technical bid was rejected, which is not sustainable one and accordingly, prays for appropriate orders.

5. Per contra, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that though the petitioner made an application for issuance of Work Site Inspection Certificate and the Working Condition of plants & Machineries Certificate, the petitioner has not identified the site and machineries to the officials. Unless, the petitioner identifies the site and machineries, the respondents cannot on their own issue certificate mechanically. Hence, she prays for the dismissal of the present writ petition.

6. Heard the leaned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents and perused the materials available on record.

7. In the present case, though the petitioner made application for issuance of Work Site Inspection Certificate and the Working Condition of plants & Machineries Certificate, the petitioner was not able to identify the site and machineries to enable the respondents to issue certificate to the petitioner. For not annexing the said certificates, the technical bid submitted by the petitioner was rejected.

8.In view of the above, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.