WP/40682/2026 of Chennai Fire Works Dealers Welfare Association Vs The Principal Secretary to Government on 28 October 2026

Order

This writ petition has been filed for the following relief: “To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the petitioner representations dated 14.07.2026 and 20.07.2026 and consequently direct respondents 1 to 6 to provide earmarked space for petitioner association for selling fire crackers every year during Diwali Festival based on the previous orders of this Court at Island Grounds, Chennai.”

2. When the matter had come up for admission on 13.10.2026, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for respondents 5 and 6 submitted that pursuant to the representation dated 20.07.2026 submitted by the petitioner-Association and the order passed in W.P.No.34910 of 2026, a joint meeting was held between the petitioner and the respondents wherein, it was decided that the allotment would be made on appropriate commercial terms through a competitive tender process in order to ensure transparency, maximise revenue to TTDC and minimise financial loss to the Corporation. A letter in this regard was also forwarded to the

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petitioner on 15.09.2026 wherein the association was directed to participate in the e-tender process for conducting Diwali Crackers Fair at Island Grounds. The learned Additional Advocate General had informed that the tender notification would be published on 14.10.2026 through e- tender as well as through publication in one issue of Tamil Daily as well as in one English Daily having wide circulation.

3. During the course of the arguments the main grievance that was agitated by the learned counsel for petitioner was that there was no transparency in the tender process. Therefore, the Court had decided to monitor the process and the matter was adjourned to 16.10.2026.

4. On 16.10.2026, when the matter was taken up for hearing, this Court was informed that the tender notification had been published in Dinamalar, a Tamil daily, and The Hindu, an English daily. The following tender schedule had been notified: Description Tender Schedule Conduct of “Diwali Crackers Fair 2026” for sale of crackers in an extent of 1,20,000 sq.ft (Approx) area on War Memorial side of the EMD Rs.50,000/- to be paid through e-procurement portal Uploading of e-Tender through

Bid Published Date 14.10.2026 at 12.00 Noon Last Date for receiving 16.10.2026 at 11.00 AM

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Island Grounds as per the terms and conditions prescribed in the e-Tender documents. queries/clarifications Pre-bid meeting date and time 16.10.2026 at 11.00 AM Address:Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, TourismComplex,No.2,Wallajah Road, Chennai-600002 e-Tender Bid Submission Starting 14.10.2026 at 12.00 Noon Last Date for Submission of e-tender 22.10.2026 at 12.00 Noon e-tender Technical Bid Opening 23.10.2026 at 02.30 PM e-Tender Financial Bid Opening To be intimated to technically qualified bidders only Submission of e-Tender, Opening of Technical &Financial Bid Through TN Government e- Tender website only

It was brought to the notice of this Court that certain portions which had been deleted from the earlier notification had been included in the present publication. Accordingly, the following clauses were deleted: “e-Tender Document Terms and Conditions Page No.02, Last Para The managing Director, TTDC reserves the rights to modify the terms and conditions and either to accept or to reject any or all Tenders without assigning any reasons. Page No.04, General Terms and Conditions No.13 The Managing Director, TTDC reserves the right or modify the terms and conditions and either to accept

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or to reject any or all Tenders without assigning any reasons and right to call any additional documents if required for verification.” Further, it was directed that on the last of the date of submission of the bids , ie. on 22.10.2026, the authority would receive it and the e-tender would thereafter be placed before Mrs.M.Suba Anbumani, Registrar (District Judiciary) who shall open the bids in the presence of the officials, tenderers and one representative of the petitioner. The Officer was directed to submit a tabulated statement of the bids on 27.10.2026 before this Court.

5. When the matter had come up on 27.10.2026, Mrs.M.Suba Anbumani, Registrar (District Judiciary) had submitted a report dated 26.10.2026 wherein she had stated that the following persons had participatedin the tender process.

1. 1793615 - K.Arumuga Mudaliar and Co.

2. 1796152 - Sunlight World

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6. When the matter was taken up for hearing today, Mrs. M. Suba Anbumani, Registrar (District Judiciary), submitted a further report dated 28.10.2026, stating that, of the two bidders who had participated in the tender process for the Diwali Crackers Fair 2026, M/s.K.Arumuga Mudaliar and Co. had been found technically qualified. The report further stated as follows: “7. It is further submitted that at exactly 12:30 p.m. on 28.10.2026, in the presence of the General Manager, TTDC, Chennai, other officials, the petitioner in the writ petition, his counsel, and the Government Advocate, the process for opening the financial bids for the tender "to conduct the Diwali Crackers Fair 2026 for the sale of crackers at Island Ground" commenced. Upon decryption of the bids, it was reflected in the Tender Summary Report that only M/s. K. Arumuga Mudaliar & Co. was admitted for the financial bid, while the other bidder, M/s. Sunlight World, was rejected at the technical bid stage with the remarks: "Bidder not fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Hence Rejected.", as follows :

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“9. It is submitted that as per the financial bid summary, M/s. K. Arumuga Mudaliar & Co. (Bid ID: 1793615) quoted an amount of 59,54,280/-Rupees Fifty-Nine Lakh Fifty-Four Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty only for conducting the "Diwali Crackers Fair 2026 for the sale of crackers on the War Memorial side of Island Ground." It is further reported in the said summary sheet that the Highest Amount Quoted was by M/s. K. Arumuga Mudaliar & Co. Accordingly, the financial bid has been completed.”

7. In view of the subsequent developments, this writ petition is disposed of, declaring M/s.K. Arumuga Mudaliar and Co. as the successful bidder in the tender process for the Diwali Crackers Fair 2026. It is needless to state that the respondents shall expedite the process of issuing the letter of acceptance and granting the necessary permissions to enable the petitioner to set up the shop at the earliest, and in any event, not later than 01.11.2026, as the festival of Diwali falls on 08.11.2026.

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8. This Court places on record its appreciation for the meticulous and painstaking work done by Mrs.M.Suba Anbumani, Registrar (District Judiciary). No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 28-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SRN To

1. The Principal Secretary to Government Tourism, Culture, Religious Endowments, And Chairman, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Fort St. George, Secretary, Chennai-09.

2. The District Collector Chennai District Collector Office, Singaravellar Malligai, Chennai- 01.

3. The Commissioner Corporation of Chennai, Rippon Buildings, Chennai-03.

4. The Commissioner of Police Greater Chennai City,

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Vepery, Chennai-07.

5. The Managing Director Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, No.2, Wallajah Salai,Chennai-02.

6. The General Manager Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, No.2, Wallajah Salai,Chennai-02.

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P.T.ASHA J. SRN WP No. 40682 of 2026 AND WMP NO. 45630 OF 2026 28-10-2026

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