Dinesh Maheshwari, J. - (1.) THE petitioners, 6 in number, having participated in the auction of plots of land situated at Gharsana Mandi as held by the respondent No. 2, Mandi Development Committee, Bikaner on 15.04.2005 in terms of auction notice dated 11.03.2005 (Annex. 1) read with the notice dated 17.03.2005 (Annex. 2), having allegedly given the highest bids for the respective plots, and, pursuant to such highest bids, having deposited 1/4th of the requisite amount on 15.04.2005 (receipts Annex. 3) filed this writ petition on 03.05.2005 while stating the grievance that the Collector, Sriganganagar proceeded to cancel such bids as stated in the news item dated 17.04.2005 (Annex. 4) and as informed by the communications dated 28.04.2005 (Annex. 6).
(2.) PUT in brief, the petitioners referred to the constitution of the Mandi Development Committees by the State Government for the purpose of development of land in the Mandi areas, i.e., The petitioners, after referring to the relevant provisions submitted that the plots in the Mandi areas are required to be sold by the Auction Committee as per the procedure provided under the said Conditions of 1973 and referred to Condition No. 8 for constitution of an Auction Committee and particularly Sub -clause (8) of Condition No. 8 whereby the result of auction is required to be communicated to the Chairman of the Committee who is to pass final order either for confirming or rejecting a bid. The petitioners alleged that the respondent No. 2, Mandi Development Committee, Bikaner had not been able to conduct the auction for disposal of the plots in Ghadsana Mandi area on account of objection of the Vyapar Mandal and threat of boycott to the auction being given; that a notice was issued on 11.03.2005 proposing to auction the plots that included the plots for Ghadsana Mandi and 15.04.2005 was The petitioners averred that in accordance with the schedule of auction notice aforesaid, the auction took place on 15.04.2005; and they offered highest bids for various plots, as mentioned in Schedule -A to the writ petition. The petitioners maintained that their bids regarding such plots in Ghadsana Mandi being the highest, the respondent No. 2 accepted 1/4th of the amount in respect of their bids on 15.04.2005 itself. The petitioners further stated that while waiting for confirmation of their bids, they were surprised to come across a news item dated 17.04.2005 that the Collector, Sriganganagar had cancelled the said bids and thereupon, the petitioner No. 2 approached the respondent No. 2 for making available the copy of the order passed by the Collector but no such copy was made available; and on the contrary, the respondent No. 2 issued the communications dated 28.04.2005 intimating the petitioners that the bids submitted by them have been cancelled by the Collector and, therefore, 1/4th amount deposited by them would be refunded.
(3.) THE petitioners sought the reliefs, inter alia, that the communications dated 28.04.2005 be quashed and the respondents be directed to confirm their bids; and also prayed for the interim relief that the respondents be restrained from On 05.05.2005, while issuing notices for final disposal in this writ petition, this Court directed that if the plots in question were put to auction again, the bids shall not be finalised until further orders. This Court passed the following order: Heard. Issue notice for final disposal. Issue notice of stay application as well. Meanwhile, if the plots in question are again put to auction, the bid shall not be finalised till further orders.;