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Madras High CourtWP/15200/2026dismissed

V Best Engineers, v. The Chief Engineer,

2026-04-17Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani5 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI WP No. 15200 of 2026 and WP.No.15204 of 2026 and WMP.Nos.16390, 16391, 16392 and 16394 of 2026 V Best Engineers,Represented by its Managing Partner, Vignesh, S/o.R.K.Moorthy, 3, 4th Street, Ramalinga Nagar, West Extension 2, Tiruchirappalli - 620 003.

..Petitioner(s) in both petitions Vs

1. The Chief Engineer,Public Works Department, Trichy Region, Trichy 620 001.

2. The Superintending Engineer,Building Construction and Maintenance, Coimbatore.

3. The Executive Engineer Electrical,Public Works Department, Electrical Division, Coimbatore.

..Respondent(s) in both petitions Prayer in WP.No.15200/2026: Writ Petition is filed for issuance of writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned Tender Summary Report dated 10.04.2026 of the 2nd respondent, quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the 2nd and 3rd respondents to consider the petitioners technical bid and financial bid in accordance with law and pass.

Prayer in WP.No.15204/2026: Writ Petition is filed for issuance of writ of Certiorarified Mandamuscalling for the records relating to the impugned Tender Summary Report dated 10.04.2026 of the 2nd respondent read along with the impugned Technical Evolution dated 10.04.2026 and impugned Financial Evolution dated 10.04.2026 of the 2nd respondent quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the 2nd and 3rd respondents to consider the petitioners technical bid and financial bid in accordance with law and pass. __________Page 1 of 5

For Petitioner(s) in both petitions:

M/s.B.Prasanna Vinoth For Respondent(s) in both petitions:

Mr.A.Selvendran, Special Government Pleader Common Order (Order of the Court was made by M.Dhandapani J.) These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the impugned Tender Summary Report 10.04.2026 of the 2nd respondent, in and by which the respondents are eliminating the petitioner from the tender and also for a direction to the respondents 2 and 3 to consider the petitioner's technical and financial bid in accordance with law.

2. The case of the petitioner is that the respondents 2 and 3 issued a tender notification dated 24.03.2026. The petitioner contends that his documents were duly forwarded within the stipulated time. It is further submitted that the petitioner had applied for renewal of his firm as a PWD Class IA Electrical Contractor, and however the online registration was done for the same and uploaded. Despite quoting the lowest amount and being eligible to be declared as an L1 contractor, the 2nd respondent by impugned Tender summary report, rejected his tender in the technical bid stage, against which the present writ petitions have been filed.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the rejection of the tender notification was on the ground of non submission of valid registration __________Page 2 of 5

certificate, and failure to upload solvency/encumbrance certificates relating to registration or renewal. It is further submitted that the petitioner had already submitted all necessary documents for registration and renewal before the 1st respondent. Despite several directions from this Court, the application remains pending with the 1st respondent Department. Though the petitioner had completed the online registration process, the certificate was not issued for reasons best known to the 1st respondent. Hence, it is contended that the petitioner ought not to have been disqualified from participating in the tender.

4. Per contra, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that registration as a Class IA contractor is mandatory for participation in the tender, as per Clause 5 of the tender notification . In the present case, since the petitioner's application is still pending with the PWD Department, he is not entitled to participate in the tender process.

4. Heard both sides and also perused the materials available on record.

5. As per Clause 5 of the tender notification, submission of a valid registration certificate is mandatory. Admittedly, the petitioner has not uploaded the said certificate along with the tender documents. Further, the petitioner's application for registration is still pending with the 1st respondent. Unless the petitioner obtains registration as a Class IA Contractor from the PWD __________Page 3 of 5

Department, he is not eligible to participate in the tender. This requirement is a policy decision of the Government and cannot be interfered with under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

4. In view of the above, these writ petitions are dismissed. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 17-04-2026 Index: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking order sk To

1. The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Trichy Region, Trichy 620 001.

2. The Superintending Engineer, Building Construction and Maintenance, Coimbatore.

3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical,Public Works Department, Electrical Division, Coimbatore.

__________Page 4 of 5

M.DHANDAPANI J.

sk WP No. 15200 of 2026 and WP.No.15204 of 2026 17-04-2026 __________Page 5 of 5