The Hon’ble Sri Justice R.Subhash Reddy Writ Petition No.3034 of 2003 Order: In this Writ Petition, the petitioner, a Society registered under the Andhra Pradesh Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Act, 1995, seeks to declare the action of the respondents, in insisting for payment of Earnest Money Deposit and also for production of Sales Tax Certificate while issuing the tender notice, as illegal and arbitrary. There is no specific reference to any of the tender notices issued by the respondents. In this Writ Petition, the petitioner is seeking relief in general by making GAD Department, Panchayat Raj Department, Social Welfare Department and Road & Buildings Department as respondents only on the ground that, being a Co-operative Society, it has to be exempted both from payment of Earnest Money Deposit and also from production of Sales Tax Certificate. In this behalf, the petitioner seeks to rely on G.O.Ms.No.585, Food and Agriculture (COOP) Department, dated 18th October, 1979, issued by the Secretary to Government and also Memo Rc.No.70821/Coop/V(1)91-6, dated 27th October, 1994, issued by the Secretary, Government of Agriculture Co- operative Department. A perusal of the same indicates that the Government issued certain instructions to the Departmental purchasers to give preference to the Co-operative Central Stores. In the above said orders, there is no reference either to EMD or any Tax Clearance Certificate. In that view of the matter, there is no basis for the relief sought for by the petitioner relying on the GO and the memo referred above. Further, it is also to be noted that the issue, whether any particular Society/Organization has to be exempted from payment of Earnest Money Deposit etc., or not, needs to be decided by the competent authority. Therefore, the Writ Petition is devoid of merits and the same is, accordingly, dismissed. No order as to costs _________________ R.Subhash Reddy, J Dated 29th October, 2009 lur