BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.03.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR and W.M.P(MD)Nos.5259 and 5260 of 2026 RCS represented by its Sole Proprietor, R.Chandrasekaran, Tiruchirappalli – 620 012. ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Heritage Buildings Circle, Chepauk, Chennai-600005. 2.The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Public Works Department, Thanjavur. ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the impugned Tender Notice No.45/HBC/2025-2026, dated 26.02.2026 of the 1^st respondent, quash the same as illegal.

For Petitioner :Mr.B.Prasanna Vinoth For Respondents :Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader *****

O R D E R

The petitioner challenges the impugned Tender Notification dated

26.02.2026 issued by the first respondent.

2. The primary ground of challenge is that the value of the tender is more than Rs.94 lakhs and therefore a minimum period of fifteen days must be provided for submission of bids from the date of publication of the tender notification. In the present case, the Tender Notification is dated 26.02.2026 and the last date for submission of bids is fixed as

06.03.2026, which provides less than fifteen days.

3. Mr. D. Sadiq Raja, learned Additional Government Pleader, placed on record the proceedings of the Superior Authority dated 24.02.2026, by which the time for submission of bids was reduced by invoking Rule 20(2) of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000.

4. The proceedings dated 24.02.2026 issued by the Superior Authority indicate that the time for submission of bids has been reduced from fifteen days to seven days by exercising the power under Rule 20(2) of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000. Rule 20(2) stipulates that in cases of urgency, any reduction in the time stipulated under sub-rule (1) must be specifically authorised by an authority superior to the Tender Inviting Authority and the reasons for such reduction must be recorded in writing.

5. Therefore, the Superior Authority is required to record specific reasons in writing for reducing the time from fifteen days to seven days. In the present case, the proceedings of the Superior Authority do not disclose any reasons for such reduction, except stating that Rule 20(2) of the Rules provides for reduction of time. Thus, the reduction of time for submission of bids from fifteen days to seven days is not in conformity with Rule 20(2) of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000 read with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998. It is a settled principle of law that when a statute prescribes a particular manner for doing an act, the same must be done in that manner and in no other manner.

6. In view of the above, this Court finds that the impugned tender notification prescribing a period of seven days for submission of bids from the date of publication is contrary to Rule 20(2) of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000. Hence, the impugned tender notification is liable to be quashed.

7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands allowed and the impugned Tender Notification dated 26.02.2026 in Tender Notice No.45/HBC/2025-2026 is hereby quashed. No costs. However, the respondents are at liberty to issue a fresh tender notification strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998 and the Rules framed thereunder. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

Index :Yes / No 11.03.2026 NCC :Yes / No cmr To

1.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Heritage Buildings Circle, Chepauk, Chennai-600005.

2.The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Public Works Department, Thanjavur.

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

cmr

11.03.2026