RAWALPINDI, Sept 29: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed the petition of 10 low category contractors who had challenged their exclusion from the bidding for reconstruction of rain affected roads in Murree.

Ibrahim Satti and other contractors had moved the court saying they had been put in the categories of C and D as they had been taking part in the tenders with costs not over Rs10 million and the Punjab government instead of inviting small tenders sought bids of Rs49 million in bulk.

Calling the step of the government as discrimination the petitioners had asked the court to direct the provincial highways department to float separate tenders for every road in Murree.

Punjab government on the other hand through Assistant Advocate General Rashid Hafeez had maintained that many roads in the hill station needed immediate repair works after recent rains and the highways department instead of inviting separate bids asked for one bid.

The government said the tender would be given to a reputed construction company having good finances as well as modern technology. It had hired a consultant to assess the quality of construction work.

Meanwhile, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of the LHC directed the Punjab health department to release the monthly salary for nine dispensers working in rural areas.

The court also sought written response from the provincial government on the petition of Noor Islam and other dispensers including three female staff within two weeks.

The petitioners through Advocate Manzoor Hussain Mughal maintained before the court that they were hired on contract on February 17, 2010 but had not been paid salary since then.