Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 HC stays contract work order
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 31 2015 : Even as construction, beautification and renovation works are being taken up on war footing in connection with the upcoming Manipur Sangai Festival, a single bench of the High Court of Manipur has passed an order suspending the Government's work order issued to M/s Tashi Interiors regarding printing, designing, supplying and installation of various items for the festival.

The order was passed after a writ petition was filed by M/s RB Printing House (Computer Section) through its proprietor Khumallambam Lenin (43) s/o Kh Basudev of Moirangkhom Sougaijam Leikai alleging discrepancies in the tender process.

Printing, designing, supplying and installation of various items for the festival are listed in Category-A of the tender notice issued by Director (Tourism) Shyam Lal Poonia on August 26, 2015 .

The budget allocation for these works is Rs 39 lakh.

M/s RB Printing House (Computer Section) submitted a bid of Rs 31, 77,471 while M/s Tashi Interiors through its managing director Yeng-khom Devson of Singjamei bazar quoted an amount of Rs 42 lakh and later reduced it to Rs 38.66,000 .

As such, M/s RB Printing House's bid amount is much lower than that of M/s Tashi Interiors' .

However, the authority concerned awarded the work order to M/s Tashi Interiors on October 8 .

According to the tender notice issued on August 26, 2015, the bidders must have prior experience in the works items bid for a period of two years, the tendering agency/individual must have a bank transaction of the total of at least 80 per cent of the budget available and should be supported by the latest bank statement, the tendering agency/ individual shall furnish earnest money deposit of an amount as indicated in the form of demand draft/ pay order by a scheduled bank in favour of The Director (Tourism) Government of Manipur, copy of VAT/commercial tax registration number/certificate or service tax registration document shall be enclosed with the tenders document by the local firm and a copy of PAN card/Tan card should be enclosed with the tender documents.

In the writ petition, the petitioner's counsel pleaded the Court to pass an interim order to stay the work order issued on October 8 to M/s Tashi Interiors observing that the tender process adopted by the respondent authorities was not at all permissible.

After hearing the petition, a single bench of Justice N Kotiswar passed an interim order to stay the said work order on October 23 .

The next hearing of the case will be held on November 2 .

Other respondents listed in the case are the State of Manipur represented by the Secretary (Tourism), Director (Tourism) and Deputy Director (Tourism) .

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