Shillong, Oct 4: The Meghalaya High Court has directed that its interim order of suspending the tendering process for supply of Aluminium Roofing Sheets will continue.
“Interim order shall continue until the next date,” the court said in its order passed on October 1, while hearing a petition filed by Manaksia Aluminium Company against the state government.
The matter again came up for hearing on Thursday where the court listed it for hearing on Friday.
The court had passed the interim order on September 27.
“Having heard the counsel for the parties, at this stage this Court has noted the fact that as submitted, the NIQ has limited the Bids only to local entrepreneurs, and further that the project in question is of considerable value of Rs. 69.65 Crores, is for procurement and distribution of Roofing Sheets to Below Poverty Line residents of the State. As considerable public interest is involved and in order to examine the process as to its transparency, it is provided in the interim that the tender process be suspended till the next date to enable the State respondents to come back with instructions/affidavit,” the court had then stated in its order.
During the hearing on September 27, Philemon Nongbri, counsel for the petitioner had submitted that the clauses which have been given in the NIQ have effectively shut-out the submission of Bids by other reputed manufacturers, such as the petitioner, who has its manufacturing Unit at Kolkata.
He therefore prayed that in the interim some protection be given so as to enable the state respondents to come up with clarifications on their stand, as to the conditions that have been given in the NIQ.
