The Tender Notification violated the mandatory minimum bid submission period under Rule 20, which necessitates proper notice for tenders exceeding a specified value.

ORDER

The petitioner challenges the Tender Notification dated 27.02.2026, which was uploaded on the official website on 02.03.2026. By the said notification, bids were invited for carrying out 43 works enumerated in the tender document. The last date for submission of bids was fixed as

04.03.2026.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that though the Tender Notification was uploaded on 02.03.2026, the last date for submission of bids was fixed as 04.03.2026. Therefore, the tender notification, issued without providing the minimum time prescribed for submission of bids, is contrary to Rule 20 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000. 3. In response, the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that the impugned Tender Notification was issued after cancelling the earlier tender notification for administrative reasons. Hence, the last date for submission of bids was fixed as 04.03.2026. According to the learned Government Advocate, in such circumstances, the same cannot be said to be illegal.

4. The submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side have been duly considered.

5. Rule 20 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000 deals with the minimum time to be allowed for submission of tenders. The said Rule mandates that the Tender Inviting Authority shall ensure that adequate time is provided for submission of tenders and that a minimum period is allowed between the date of publication of the Notice Inviting Tenders in the relevant Tender Bulletin or newspapers, whichever is later, and the last date for submission of tenders. The Rule further prescribes that the minimum period shall be:

(a) fifteen days for tenders up to rupees two crores in value; and (b) thirty days for tenders exceeding rupees two crores in value.

6. In the present case, the value of the tender exceeds rupees three crores. Therefore, the respondents ought to have provided the minimum period prescribed under Rule 20 for submission of bids. However, the impugned Tender Notification provided only three days for submission of bids. Thus, the impugned notification is in clear violation of Rule 20 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000 and is liable to be set aside.

7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands allowed and the impugned Tender Notification issued by the third respondent in Proceedings Na.Ka.No. 77/2024/Thil dated 27.02.2026, which was uploaded on 02.03.2026, is hereby quashed. However, liberty is granted to the respondents to issue a fresh Tender Notification in accordance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.