Kalavathi Enterprises Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Kalavathi Enterprises Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Leave to withdraw the writ petition granted; writ petition dismissed as withdrawn; no costs; pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, stood closed. No adjudication on the merits of the challenge to the tender notification.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Notification Inviting Tender dated 03.02.2026 issued by the 3rd respondent for granting license rights for procurement of human hair offered by devotees in the Devasthanam Kalyanakatta (27.12.2025 to 26.12.2027) through e-procurement (online) tender and e-auction only, without tender-cum-public auction, is arbitrary, illegal and violative of the A.P. Endowments Leases and Licenses Rules, 2003 (as amended) and Article 14 of the Constitution, and whether a fresh tender process under Rule 3 of the said Rules ought to be directed. (Pleaded but not adjudicated; petition dismissed as withdrawn.)

Ratio / Principle

Permission was accorded to the petitioner to withdraw the writ petition, as sought by learned counsel for the petitioner by letter dated 09.03.2026.

Key takeaways

The writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn, with no costs.ratio¶31
As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, were directed to stand closed.ratio¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (Art. 226) dismissed as withdrawn — Kalavathi Enterprises had challenged the Notification Inviting Tender dated 03.02.2026 issued by Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamyvarla Devasthanam, Srisailam (3rd respondent), granting license rights for procurement of human hair offered by devotees at the Devasthanam Kalyanakatta for 27.12.2025–26.12.2027 through e-procurement (online) tender and e-auction only, pleading violation of the A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Immovable Properties and Other Rights (Other than Agricultural Lands) Leases and Licenses Rules, 2003 (incl. Rule 3) and Article 14, and seeking a fresh tender-cum-public auction process. Before any adjudication, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted a letter dated 09.03.2026 seeking leave to withdraw; permission accorded; writ petition dismissed as withdrawn; no costs; pending miscellaneous petitions (incl. IA No. 1 of 2026 under S.151 CPC for stay) stood closed. No ruling on merits; no precedent value on the validity of e-procurement-only tenders.

APHC010068492026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

[3329]

TUESDAY,THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 3963/2026

Between:

KALAVATHI ENTERPRISES, SAVARALABASTHI, WALKER TOWN, PADMARAO NAGAR, SECUNDERABAD - 500061, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR, POGARTHI YELLAIAH, S/O. RAMMURTHY, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/O. 0-1-132/133/1/55, PADMARAO NAGAR, NEAR ELLAMMA TEMPLE, HYDERABAD, SECUNDERABAD, TELAGANA - 500061.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, SECREATARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522237.

THE COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA-521225.

SRI BHRAMARAMBA MALLIKARJUNA SWAMYVARLA DEVASTHANAM, SRISAILAM, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518101, REP BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction Declaring the Notification Inviting Tender dated 03.02.2026 issued by the 3rd respondent for granting license rights for procurement of

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human hair offered by devotees in the Devasthanam Kalyanakatta for a period of two years from 27.12.2025 to 26.12.2027, through e-procurement (online) tender and e-auction only, without inviting applications through tender cum public auction as arbitrary, illegal and violative of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments immovable Properties and Other Rights (Other than Agricultural Lands) Leases and Licenses Rules, 2003, as amended also violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and set-aside the same consequentially to Direct the respondents to conduct the fresh tender process strictly in accordance with the e-tender-cum-public auction mode as mandated under Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Immovable Properties and Other Rights (Other than Agricultural Lands) Leases and Licenses Rules, 2003, as amended,

IA NO: 1 OF 2026

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to grant stay of all further proceedings in Notification Inviting I ender dated 03.02.2026 issued by the 3rd respondent for granting license rights for procurement of human hair offered by devotees in the Devasthanam Kalyanakatta for a period of two years from 27.12.2025 to 26.12.2027, through e-procurement (online) tender and e-auction pending disposal of the above writ petition

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.V V N NARAYANA RAO

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.GP FOR ENDOWMENTS

The Court made the following:

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THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 3963/2026

ORDER:

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted a letter dated

09.03.2026 seeking permission of this Court to withdraw the Writ Petition.

Permission as sought for is accorded.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn. No

costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand

closed.

________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J

10.03.2026 Note: C.C. by tomorrow B/o.TPS

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HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA

WRIT PETITION NO: 3963/2026

10.03.2026 Note: C.C. by tomorrow B/o.TPS