In Brief
A cooperative society managing river ghats sought to challenge an auction-based settlement of a ghat at Rs. 16 lakh, claiming it should have been settled at only 15% above previous years' rates under government guidelines. Though the society accepted the auction result under protest, it later filed a writ petition opposing the bid amount. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the society, having accepted the auction award, cannot challenge the auction process itself. The court found the open auction justified to augment State revenue and achieve transparency, and noted the society had participated successfully in auctions for other ghats at higher rates.
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