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1966 Supreme(Online)(MP) 6

MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT
, J
Chhotabhai Jethabhai Patel and Co. Rajnandgaon v. State
M.P. No. 153 of 1965



The Governor's authority to promulgate ordinances follows constitutional provisions without requiring presidential instructions unless specified. The validity of tenders and purchaser appointments were legally upheld.

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 213(1) - Madhya Pradesh Tendu Patta (Vyapar Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1964 - Challenge to the validity of the Ordinance amending rules and appointments for purchasing Tendu leaves - The Governor can promulgate ordinances without presidential instructions unless specifically required under the Constitution. (Para 7)

(B) Colourable Legislation - The Ordinance was within the legislative competence and did not amount to a colourable piece of legislation. The motivations behind the ordinance are irrelevant if it is within legislative competence. (Para 12)

(C) Tender Validity - Tenders submitted were found invalid; the government acted pursuant to the amended rules for appointing purchasers. (Para 14)

(D) Reasoning and Appointment - The appointment of a purchaser by the government was valid as per the requirements under the new sub-rule (7-a). (Para 16)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner questioned the validity of the Ordinance and appointments made under it for purchasing Tendu leaves, resulting from the acceptance of invalid tenders.

Findings of Court:
The Court upheld the Ordinance's validity and the government’s power to appoint purchasers under the new sub-rule (7-a), confirming that no valid tenders were available.

Issues: The key issues were the legality of the Ordinance and whether the government followed proper procedures for appointments made under the new sub-rule.

Ratio Decidendi: The Ordinance was confirmed valid as it did not infringe on existing laws and followed constitutional provisions.

Result: The petition was dismissed.

Table of Content
1. challenge to the validity of ordinance and appointment of purchasers. (Para 1 , 2)
2. court's examination of the validity of the ordinance and its provisions. (Para 3 , 5 , 8 , 10)
3. contention on tender validity and its implications. (Para 6 , 14)
4. assessment of the ordinance as colourable legislation. (Para 7 , 12)
5. final ruling on the petition's dismissal. (Para 16)

1. By this application under Art.226 of the Constitution, the petitioner challenges the validity of "the Madhya Pradesh Tendu Patta (Vyapar Viniyaman) Niyamavali Sanshodhan Adhyadesh, 1965" (hereinafter referred to as the Ordinance), an ordinance promulgated by the Governor on, 11th May 1965, amending in certain respects the Madhya Pradesh Tendu Patta (Vyapar Viniyaman) Niyamavali, 1965, (Rules framed under the M.P. Tendu Patta (Vyapar Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1964, and hereinafter called the Rules), and of the appointment of the respondent No. 5, M/s. Vrajlal Muljibhai and Co., Bilaspur, as purchaser for the purchase of Tendu Patla leaves, collected by the Government or by its officers or agents in certain units of certain ranges of North Bilaspur Forest Division. The petitioner prays that the Ordinance be declared invalid and the appointment of the respondent No. 5 purporting to have been made in accordance with the Rules, as amended by the Ordinance, be held to be illegal, and the opponents be commanded to give effect to the Chholabhai Jethabhai Patel and Co. v. State of M.P. , Misc. Petn. No. 153 of 1965, D/-27-4-1965 : ( AIR 1966 MP 34 ) by inviting fresh lenders in accordance with R.7 of the Rules, as they stood before they were amended by the Ordinance, for the disposal of Tendu leaves collected from the aforesaid units.

2. The matter arises thus After the coming into force of the Madhya Pradesh Tendu Patla (Vyapar Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1964, (hereinafter called the Act), the Government issued a notice on 9th February 1965 inviting tenders from persons or parties desirous of purchasing Tendu leaves purchased or likely to be collected by Government or its officers or agents in the various Tendu Patta Units, a list of which was appended to the notice. That list included the units involved in this application. According to this tender notice, tenders for the units of ranges of North Bilaspur Forest Division had to be submitted personally to the Conservator of Forests. Bilaspur, or to his Office Superintendent, before 15.00 hours of 2nd March 1965. They could also be sent by registered post so as to reach the Conservator of Forests or his office before the said date and time. No tenders for the units in question were, however, received at Bilaspur upto 15.00 hours of 2nd March 1965. The respondent No. 5, however, presented its tenders in respect of the units concerned at 'Raipur on 2nd March 1965 in sealed covers addressed to the Conservator of Forests, Bilaspur, through the Conservator of Forests, Raipur. These tenders were accepted by the Government.

3. The petitioner then filed an application under Art.226 of the Constitution questioning the validity of the tenders submitted by the respondent No. 5 and seeking a direction restraining the Government from acting in any manner on those tenders. It also prayed for the issue of a direction to the opponents commanding them to entertain and consider the tenders it had submitted on 16th March 1965 to the Conservator of Forests, Bilaspur, for the purchase of Tendu leaves from the units in question for which the respondents No. 5 had given its tenders. That petition (M.P. No. 153 of 1965 : ( AIR 1966 MP 34 ) was allowed in part by us on 27th April 1965 holding that the tenders submitted for the units in question by the respondent No. 5 were invalid and consequently the acceptance of those tenders by the State Government was also invalid.
The petitioner's prayer for a direction to the opponent State to entertain and consider its tenders submitted on 16th March 1965, was however rejected by us. The decis






















































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