JUDGMENT :

VINEET SARAN, J.

1. This is a batch of writ petitions filed by some contractors challenging the condition, whereby, in response to tender call notice, they are required to furnish Additional Performance Security (APS) at the stage of submission of their bids in the form of bank draft or other specified modes as a pre-condition to their participation in the tender process, if their bids are for amounts below the estimated cost as provided in the notice inviting tender.

2. W.P.(C) No.7120 of 2017 is being treated as the leading petition, in which counter and rejoinder affidavits have been exchanged. The counter affidavit filed in this writ petition has been adopted by the State Government in all other connected writ petitions, and copies of the same have been served on the respective learned counsel for the petitioners in other connected writ petitions. Rejoinder affidavit in the leading writ petition has been filed. Some other writ petitioners have also filed their rejoinder affidavits. As such, pleadings between the parties (to the extent as desired by the respective petitioners) have been exchanged and with the consent of learned counsel for the parties, these writ petitio