Madras High CourtWP/1792/2026disposed of with direction

M/S. Labtech Electronics Private Ltd, v. Government Of Tamil Nadu

2026-03-11Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 11.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.1868 and 1869 of 2026 M/s.Labtech Electronics Private Ltd., Represented by its Managing Director Mrs.Muthulakshmi, Having registered office at No.1/3, Porur - Kundrathur High Road, Priyapanicheri, Chennai - 600 128.

... Petitioner Vs.

1 Government of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2 The Chairman Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

3 The Managing Director 1/8

4 The Superintending Engineer Contracts and Monitoring (C&M) 5 The Superintendent Engineer Water and Waste Water Treatment (WWTR) 6 Chief Engineer (Operation & Maintenance II) ED 7 Engineering Director 8 The Director Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited, POLYHOUSE TOWERS, (Spic Annex BLDG) First Floor, No.86, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

... Respondents Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for records pertaining to the tender notification of the third respondent Dt. 27/11/2025 No. 2/8

CNT/SEW/ NCB/MWB /3698/ 2025-26 (uploaded in website on 29/11/2025) and the subsequent corrigendum(s) by way of Addendum-I Dt. 29/12/2025 issued by the 6th respondent in Contract No. CMWSSB/CNT/SEW/ NCB/MWB /3698/ 2025-26 that is enclosed along with the 3rd respondent covering letter No. CMWSSB/CNT/SEW/ NCB/MWB /3698/ 2025-26 Dt. 31/12/2026 and the Addendum-II Dt. 08/01/2025 issued by the 7th respondent to the Contract No. CMWSSB/CNT/SEW/ NCB/MWB /3698/ 2025-26 enclosed along with the 3rd respondent covering Letter No.CMWSSB/CNT/SEW/ NCB/MWB /3698/ 2025-26 and quash the same as illegal, unconstitutional and arbitrary and further direct the respondents to receive and consider the tender offered by the petitioner on 08/01/2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.Raghavachari Senior Counsel for M/s.PS Ganesh For Respondents : Mr.T.M.Rajangam for R1, R2 Government Advocate Mr.P.S.Raman for R3 to R7 Assisted By Mr.Krishna Ravindran Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for records pertaining to the tender notification of the third respondent Dt. 27/11/2025 No. 3/8

2.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the e-bid submitted by the petitioner was not accepted by the respondents and aggrieved by the same, the petitioner filed this writ petition. This Court vide order dated 19.01.2026 directed the petitioner to submit the original physical documents along with demand draft for the EMD to the third respondent before 5.00 p.m. on that day and issued direction to the third respondent to accept the 4/8

same and to evaluate the technical bid, pursuant to which, the technical bid submitted by the petitioner was evaluated and was rejected.

3.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that as against the rejection order, the petitioner intends to prefer appeal in terms of Section 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998. Hence, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, may grant liberty to the petitioner to prefer appeal in terms of Section 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act and to canvass all the points before the Appellate Authority and issue direction to the Appellate Authority to consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a reasonable time frame. 4.The learned Advocate General submitted that as on date there is no valid bid as per the Tender Notification and it is only physical bid pursuant to the direction issued by this Court and further submitted that the petitioner may be permitted to approach the Appellate Authority and to canvass all the points before the Appellate Authority, if there is any valid bid by the petitioner. 5/8

5.Considering the limited request now made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, this Court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, grants liberty to the petitioner to file appeal in terms of Section 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and to canvass all the points before the Appellate Authority, in the manner known to law. If any such appeal is filed by the petitioner, the Appellate Authority shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of four weeks thereafter. 6.The writ petition is disposed of with the above observation. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

11.03.2026 pri/vsi2 Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No 6/8

To 1 Government of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2 The Chairman Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

3 The Managing Director 4 The Superintending Engineer Contracts and Monitoring (C&M) 5 The Superintendent Engineer Water and Waste Water Treatment (WWTR) 6 Chief Engineer (Operation & Maintenance II) ED 7/8

M.DHANDAPANI,J.

pri/vsi2 7 Engineering Director 8 The Director Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited, POLYHOUSE TOWERS, (Spic Annex BLDG) First Floor, No.86, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

And W.M.P.Nos.1868 and 1869 of 2026 11.03.2026 8/8