Panchavarnamkumar v. The Director

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 05.10.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and W.M.P.(MD)No.20200 of 2023 Panchavarnamkumar President, Thiruchuzhi First Grade Panchayat, Tiruchuzhi-626 129, Virudhunagar District.

... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Director, Directorate of Town Panchayats, No.7th, 8th Floor, Urban Administrative Office Campus, Chennai-600 028.

2.The District Collector / The Inspector of Panchayats, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

3.The Block Development Officer, Thiruchuzhil, Rettiyapuram, Virudhunagar District.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 3rd respondent to call for E-Tender works relating to fund Allotment and administrative 1/4

approval granted by the 2nd respondent dated 28.062023 by following the Tamilnadu Transparency in Tenders act, 1998 and Rules 2000, within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Seemaraj For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani Special Government Pleader for R1 & R2 : Mr.M.Siddharthan Additional Government Pleader for R3

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for R1 & R2 and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for R3.

2. The petitioner is a panchayat president. He wants this Court to direct the third respondent to carry out the petition mentioned contract works by calling for e-tenders. According to the petitioner's counsel, the third respondent did not resort to e-tender system. Mrs.Padmini is the Block Development Officer, Thiruchuzhil. She is present in person. She categorically asserts that she did go for e-tender system and based on the tenders received, the work orders were issued. A categorical statement has been made by the third respondent denying the allegation of the writ petitioner. It is also stated that the work orders have already been issued. The petitioner as a panchayat president 2/4

obviously could not have been a tenderer or bidder. The only concern of the petitioner can be that the contract works should be successfully carried out.

3. Recording the submission of the third respondent, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

05.10.2023 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No rmi To 1.The Director, Directorate of Town Panchayats, No.7th, 8th Floor, Urban Administrative Office Campus, Chennai-600 028.

2.The District Collector / The Inspector of Panchayats, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

3.The Block Development Officer, Thiruchuzhil, Rettiyapuram, Virudhunagar District.

3/4

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

rmi 05.10.2023 4/4