Prayer in W.P.No.9789 of 2026 : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 27.01.2026 in the light of the Contract Cancellation Certificate issued by the 3rd respondent and consequently refund the EMD/Security Deposit amount of Rs.3,75,950/- relating to Contract No.SLR-F1-MAS-LTT-23-3 dated 08.11.2023 within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

Prayer in W.P.No.9791 of 2026 : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s representation dated 27.01.2026 and consequently pass appropriate orders in respect of refund/release of the Security Deposit/EMD amount of Rs.66,385/- relating to Contract No.MAS-F1-22826-SHM dated 17.03.2023, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

Prayer in W.P.No.9796 of 2026 : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s representation dated 27.01.2026 and consequently pass appropriate orders in respect of refund/release of the forfeited EMD/Security Deposit amount of Rs.9,81,850/- relating to Contract No.12621-F1-MAS-NDLS-2024 dated 18.09.2024, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

Prayer in W.P.No.9799 of 2026 : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s representation dated 27.01.2026 and consequently pass appropriate orders in respect of refund/release of the forfeited EMD/Security Deposit amount of Rs.2,24,658/- relating to Contract No.22158-F1-MS-CSMT-2025 dated 10.02.2025, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

Prayer in W.P.No.9800 of 2026 : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s representation dated 27.01.2026 and consequently pass appropriate orders in respect of refund/release of the forfeited EMD amount of Rs.13,77,875/- relating to IREPS e-Auction dated 28.03.2025 (Catalogue No.SLR-PARCEL-25-Lot No.12840- SLR-R1-MAS-HWH-25-1 – Train No.12840 MAS-HWH), within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

In all W.Ps

C O M M O N O R D E R

In view of the commonality of the issue involved, this Court is inclined to consider and decide all these Writ Petitions by way of this common order.

2. The above Writ Petitions have been filed seeking a direction respondent to consider the representations dated 27.01.2026 with regard to refund of security deposits relating to respective contracts.

3. The petitioner has been engaged in transport operations under the lease contracts awarded by the Railway Administration. He was awarded with respective lease contracts in the IREPS e-Auction conducted by the Southern Railway during the relevant periods. As per the tender conditions, the petitioner had deposited the respective amounts. It is the grievance of the petitioner that, even after the expiry of the contract period, till date, the respondents have not refunded the security deposits made by him. Therefore, the petitioner submitted the respective representations dated 27.01.2026 seeking refund of such security deposits. However, the said representations have not been considered till date and therefore, in order to espouse the said cause, the present Writ Petitions have been filed.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that, as per clause 17 of the conditions of contract, a contractor is permitted to terminate the contract during the subsistence of the contract period by giving 30 days’ notice after completion of minimum contractual period of three months. Accordingly, the pet