A.S. Bopanna, J. - (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) The appellants in eleven of these appeals are the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. ("OFDC Ltd." for short) and the State of Odisha is the appellant in two other appeals. The appeals filed by the State of Odisha relate to the same orders in respect of the same private respondents who were the writ petitioners regarding whom the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. has also filed the appeal. Further, though separate orders passed by the High Court in different writ petitions relating to various petitioners are assailed in all these appeals, the issue involved is the same. Hence all these appeals were clubbed, heard together and are accordingly disposed of by this common judgment. For the purpose of narration of facts, the case as in Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No.17627/2019, titled Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. vs. M/s Anupam Traders & Anr. is taken note, which reads as hereunder.
(3.) The appellant OFDC Ltd. issued an e-tender notification dated 22.11.2016 inviting offers online from intending purchasers for advance sale of phal Kendu leaf (KL) of 2017 crop as per the 'lots' indicated in the notification. The private respondent had responded to the notification and made its offer. The bid was opened on 07.12.2016. The private respondent being the successful bidder was required to execute an agreement and deposit the provisional security deposit of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakh). The private respondent herein executed an agreement dated 20.01.2017. In terms of the agreement, on the actual quantity of leaves collected, the additional security deposit covering 25% of the purchase price of the lot was to be deposited before 31.05.2017. The private respondent in the instant case was therefore required to deposit the differential security amount of Rs.27,14,765/-less, the security amount of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakh) already paid.;