Pankaj Bhatia, J. - (1.) Heard Sri Yogendra Singh Bohra, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Pramod Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the respondents and learned standing counsel for the State.
(2.) The present petition has been filed challenging the order dated 20.9.2018 passed by the respondent no.3 with the approval of respondent no.2.
(3.) The facts of the case, in brief, are that the respondent no.3 published a auction notice on 12.9.2017 for public auction of number of items which included the collection of fee for the transport of minor minerals namely; Sand, Morang and Gitti etc. The said auction notice which is filed as Annexure-3 to the writ petition called for bids for auction of various items from the general public. The said auction notice was published in a widely circulated daily newspaper Amar Ujala dated 14.9.2017. It has been stated that in terms of the said public notice, a public auction was held by the Auction Committee under the Chairmanship of Uppar Mukhya Adhikari on 22.1.2018 and the petitioner was the highest bidder at Rs.12.50 lacs. It has been further stated that the public auction held on 22.1.2018 in pursuance to the auction notice dated 12.9.2017 was approved by the respondent no.2 vide its order dated 11.4.2018 and in pursuance to the said confirmation, the petitioner deposited the amounts were to be deposited in the following manner.;