Vincent John v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Writ Petition(MD)No.26739 to 26741 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.20735 to 20740 of 2025 Vincent John .. Petitioner in all petitions Vs 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, St. George Fort, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, 4th & 5th Floor, Building, Panagal Maligai, Abdul Razzak Street, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.

3.The District Collector, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

4.The Joint Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Nagercoil, Kanykumari District.

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5.The Block Development Officer, Munchirai Panchayat Union, Munchirai, Kanyakumari District.

... Respondents 1 to 5 in all petitons 6.Y.Daniel ..6th Respondent in W.P(MD)No.26739 of 2025 7.K.Vincent Reji ..6th Respondent in W.P(MD)No.26740 of 2025 6.Austin G.Dhas ..6th Respondent in W.P(MD)No.26741 of 2025 Common Prayer: Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned Tender acceptance order issued by 5th respondent herein in his proceeding in Che.Mu. Nos.A2/2257/2024-3, A2/2257/2024-1 and A2/2257/2024-4 dated 02.04.2025 respectively and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the 5th respondent herein to issue tender acceptance order in favour of the petitioner being the lowest bidder for the 3rd, 1st and 1st work respectively which the petitioner has quoted as per the notification dated 27.02.2025 which specified the cutoff date as 10.03.2025.

In all petitions:

For Petitioner : Mr.C.Kishore For Respondents : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff Govt. Advocate for R1 to R5 COMMON ORDER The petitioner has filed these writ petitions challenging the acceptance of the tender by the fifth respondent. 2/6

2.The principal contention of the petitioner is that the fifth respondent was not the competent authority to accept the tender in view of G.O.Ms. No.203, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR.I) Department, dated 20.12.2007. According to the petitioner, under the said Government Order, the second respondent alone is the designated Tender Accepting Authority and, therefore, the acceptance of the tender by the fifth respondent is without jurisdiction. 3.The petitioner has also contended that the financial bids ought to have been opened in the presence of the bidders. According to the petitioner, the fifth respondent opened the financial bids in the absence of the bidders, thereby vitiating the tender process. 4.It is, however, brought to the notice of this Court that, even prior to the filing of these writ petitions, work orders had been issued to the successful bidder. It is also not in dispute that the works awarded under the tender have since been completed and payments have been released to the successful bidder in terms of the work orders.

5.The petitioner expressed an apprehension that his bids were rejected on account of his having questioned the actions of the 3/6

respondents. Such an apprehension cannot be adjudicated in the present writ proceedings. If, according to the petitioner, his bids were illegally or arbitrarily rejected, it is open to him to work out his remedies in the manner known to law.

6.Insofar as the question whether the fifth respondent was the competent authority to accept the tender is concerned, the said issue is left open to be decided in appropriate proceedings, if and when the occasion arises. In view of the subsequent developments, namely, completion of the work and disbursement of payments to the successful bidder, no further relief can be granted in these writ petitions.

7.Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

11.06.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes skn 4/6

To 1.The District Collector, District Collector Office, Trichy Bypass Road, Tanjavur District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

skn Writ Petition(MD)No.26739 to 26741 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.20735 to 20740 of 2025 11.06.2026 6/6