The Gauhati High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed challenging the Mizoram government’s selection of private respondents for certain works.
The petitioner alleged that the government ignored quotations from prospective tenderers who bid below the scheduled rate (SOR) and instead awarded the tender to private respondents who quoted rates exactly matching the SOR, resulting in a loss of over ₹1.2 crores to the public exchequer.
However, the Aizawl Bench comprising Justice Nelson Sailo and Justice Marli Vankung, found that the notice inviting tender allowed for rates up to 5% below or 10% above the SOR, with justification. Since the selected tenderers quoted rates as per the SOR, the court saw no reasonable grounds to entertain the PIL.
Citing the Gauhati High Court PIL Rules, 2011, the court held that disputes relating to contractual or statutory liabilities are not construed as PIL.
The judges noted that if the non-selected tenderers had approached the court, the situation would be different. Consequently, the PIL was dismissed.