Sea Rock Infrastructure v. The Chief Engineer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29.01.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN and C.M.P.Nos.32353 and 32354 of 2025 W.A.No.3986 of 2025: M/s.Sea Rock Infrastructure Rep by its Partner, Gokul Sekar, No.12, Sheik Dawood Street, Erode-638 001. Appellant Vs

1.The Chief Engineer Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Building,

2.M/s.SRM Construction Rep. by its Partner B. Pravesh Krishna, No.9/450 Kaspapettai, M.S.Mangalam Village, Aval Poondurai, Erode - 638 115. (R2 impleaded vide order dated

10.09.2025 made in WMP No.37656/2025 in WP No.32269/2025) Respondents PRAYER

: Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.32269 of 2025 dated 20.11.2025. For Appellant: Mr.T.K.Bhaskar For Respondents: Mr.P.S.Raman Advocate General assisted by Mr.A.Selvendran Special Government Pleader for respondent No.1 Mr. V.Raghavachari Senior Counsel for Mr.A.Mohamed Ismail for respondent No.2 W.A.No.3987 of 2025: Sri Pathy Associates Private Limited Rep. by its Authorised Signatory, Subamaniam Sekar, No.62, Thangaperumal Street, Erode – 638 001. Appellant Vs

1.The Chief Engineer Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Building,

2.M/s.SRM Construction Rep. by its Partner B.Pravesh Krishna, No.9/450 Kaspapettai, M.S.Mangalam Village, Aval Poondurai, Erode - 638 115. (R2 impleaded vide order dated 10.09.2025 made in WMP No.38074/2025 in WP No.31434/2025) Respondents PRAYER

: Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.31434 of 2025 dated 20.11.2025. For Appellant: Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan Senior Counsel for Mr.T.K.Bhaskar For Respondents: Mr.P.S.Raman Advocate General assisted by Mr.A.Selvendran Special Government Pleader for respondent No.1 Mr. V.Raghavachari Senior Counsel for Mr.A.Mohamed Ismail for respondent No.2 COMMON JUDGMENT (Made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard learned counsel for the parties.

¶2These appeals are preferred against the common order dated

20.11.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge in the matter of challenge to the rejection of tender.

¶3It appears that even before communication of the reason for rejection of tenders submitted by the writ petitioners, writ petitions were filed. The learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petitions as premature. During the pendency of the present appeals, reasons have been communicated to the appellants.

¶4Though number of grounds have been urged before us to assail the correctness and validity of the order passed by the learned Single Judge and the reasons communicated to the appellants, taking into consideration that there exists an alternative remedy of statutory appeal, we are not inclined to keep these appeals pending, but dispose of the same, with liberty to the appellants to avail the alternative remedy of statutory appeal.

¶5Keeping in view the scheme of Section 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, in case the appellants file statutory appeals within a period of ten days from today, the appeals shall be heard without going into any objection to limitation. The appellants are at liberty to take all such grounds, as may be available under the law.

¶6Taking into consideration that an interim order was passed by this Court, the interim order shall continue for a period of ten days or till the date of filing of appeals, whichever is earlier.

¶7The appeals are, accordingly, disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

29.01.2026 Index : : bbr To: The Chief Engineer Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Building, THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J. bbr

29.01.2026