M/S. Sri Rm Constructions v. The Block Development Officer

ORDER The writ petition has been filed to quash the impugned order passed by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.988/2025/A2 dated ..08.2025 (signed on

26.08.2025) as well as the consequential order of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.1324/2023/R2 dated 19.09.2025.

¶2The petitioner-company is a leading contractor engaged in the business of construction of buildings, laying of roads and other construction works. The first respondent had called for e-tender vide Notification No. ROC.No.988/2024/A2 dated 18.07.2025 for construction of Health Sub Centre New Building at Noolahalli Head Office, Noolahalli Panchayat, Dharmapuri District. One of the tender condition stipulates that the bidder should submit an Experience Certificate. The petitioner who intends to participate in the tender, had submitted all the requisite documents along with the Experience Certificate issued by the Forest Engineer, Tiruchirapalli, dated 02.04.2024. The first respondent on receipt of tender documents from the petitioner, had forwarded the Experience Certificate enclosed by the petitioner to the Forest Officer, Engineering Division, Trichy to ascertain the genuineness of the said certificate. The said Forest Officer vide his letter dated 20.08.2025 had stated that the experience certificate submitted by the petitioner, is not genuine. Pursuant to which, the first respondent without issuing any notice or conducting Page3 of 6 any enquiry, had issued the impugned proceedings in Na.Ka.No.988/2025/2, blacklisting the petitioner-company. Subsequently, the second respondent had issued the order dated 19.09.2025, prohibiting the petitioner from participating in the above tender as well as the tenders called for by District Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department of Dharmapuri District, in future. Aggrieved by the proceedings issued by the first in Na.Ka.No.988/2025/a2 and consequential proceedings of the second respondent dated 19.09.2025, the petitioner is before this Court.

¶3Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate who takes notice for the respondents 1 and 2.

¶4The grievance of the petitioner is that by solely relying on the letter of the Forest Officer dated 20.08.2025, the first respondent without providing an opportunity to the petitioner to putforth his case, had passed the impugned order blacklisting the petitioner, pursuant to which, the second respondent had passed the consequential order prohibiting the petitioner from participating in the subject tender as well as the tenders called for by the Government in future.

¶5A mere perusal of the impugned order of the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.988/2025/a2, vis-a-vis blacklisting the petitioner would clearly show Page4 of 6 that the same has been passed solely based on the proceedings of Forest Officer, Engineering Division, Thiruchirapalli, however, no notice of hearing was afforded to the petitioner nor an enquiry was conducted. Therefore, ex facie, there is flouting of principles of natural justice. Therefore, this Court without going into the merits of the case, has quashed the impugned proceedings of the first respondent and remitted the case back to the first respondent, who shall consider the case of the petitioner afresh and dispose of the same within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after issuing due notice and hearing the petitioner. Accordingly, the proceedings of the second respondent would stand quashed subject to the outcome of the decision taken by the first respondent.

¶6The writ petition stands allowed in the above terms. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 26-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS Page5 of 6 To:

¶1The Block Development Officer Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District.

¶2The District Rural Development Agency Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District. WPoNo.o5544oofo2026 P.T.ASHAoJ. DS WPoNo.o5544oofo2026 AND WMPoNO.o6027oOFo2026,WMPoNO.o6028oOFo2026 26-02-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 26-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP NO. 6027 OF 2026,WMP NO. 6028 OF 2026 M/s. Sri RM Constructions Rep by its Proprietor R.Mallan Having office at No.3/29A Chinnanoohali Mittanoohali Dharmapuri District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Block Development Officer Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District. 2. The District Rural Development Agency Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records of the order passed by the 1st respondent in Na.Ka.988/2025/a2 dated .08.2025 (signed on 26.8.2025) and consequential order of the 2nd respondent in Na.Ka.1324/2023/r2 dated 19.9.2025 and quash the same. For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.S.Palaniswamy For Respondent(s): Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan Additional Government Pleader for R1 Mr.D.Gopal, Government Advocate for R2 Page2 of 6