IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P NO. 1715 OF 2009 DECIDED ON : 03.02.2009 Surjit Singh ...Petitioner versus State of Punjab and another ...Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT Present : Mr. Vikas Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner. SURYA KANT, J. (ORAL) The petitioner is aggrieved at the order dated 12.09.2008 (Annexure P-2) whereby the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Limited has declined to confirm the auction in his favour and has returned his earnest money of Rs.10 lacs on the ground that the petitioner's offer has not been accepted by the Board of Directors. The petitioner claims to be the highest bidder who offered Rs.5.26 crores for the agricultural land measuring 373 Kanals 16 Marlas situated at villages Bachuwan, Jeowal, Balachaur, District Nawanshahar, which was put to auction by the respondent-Corporation on 30.01.2008. The petitioner's grievance appears to be that no reason what so ever has been assigned for not accepting his bid and that the earnest money of Rs.10 lacs has been returned after a long period of eight months by the Corporation, without any interest. C.W.P NO. 1715 OF 2009 -2- Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner, I deem it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to respondent No.2-Corporation to treat this writ petition as a representation on behalf of the petitioner and consider and dispose of his claim by passing a reasoned order. If the Corporation, for certain valid reasons, is not inclined to accept the petitioner's highest bid, it shall also consider the petitioner's claim regarding payment of some reasonable amount of interest on the earnest money of Rs.10 lacs, which remained with the Corporation for a period of about eight months. The needful shall be done within a period of three months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. FEBRUARY 03, 2009 (SURYA KANT) shalini JUDGE