Dr.P.K.Lazar vs. State Of Kerala
Held
The High Court dismissed the appeal, affirming that the entrustment of work to the cooperative society was in the best interest of students and within the Government's exclusive domain. It found no illegality, clandestine awarding, or favoritism, rejecting the appellant's attempt to compel the Government to award the work to him.
Facts
The appellant, a private publisher, challenged the Kerala High Court's judgment dismissing his petition against the State's decision to award a contract for printing and publishing translated textbooks to a cooperative society without an e-tender. He alleged favoritism and lack of transparency in the contract, which he claimed was worth over Rs. 15 Crores.
Key Issues
The key legal issues were whether the Government's direct award of a textbook printing contract to a cooperative society, bypassing e-tender, was illegal or constituted favoritism, and if a private entity could demand such a contract.
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.S.MANIKUMAR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHAJI P.CHALY THURSDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF APRIL, 2023 / 23RD CHAITHRA, 1945 WA NO. 688 OF 2022 [AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN WP(C)NO.12109/2022 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA] APPELLANT/PETITIONER: DR. P. K. LAZAR, AGED 66 YEARS, S/O. LATE P.L. KURIAKKU, GENERAL MANAGER, EXCEL PUBLISHERS, OPPOSITE MOTHER HOSPITAL, OLLARIKKARA, THRISSUR – 680 012. BY ADV. SRI. RAJIT RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS: 1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. 2 DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, HIGHER SECONDARY WING, HOUSING BOARD BUILDINGS, SANTHINAGAR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. 3 STATE COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING, POOJAPPURA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-690512. 4 CALICUT UNIVERSITY CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE STORES LIMITED.NO.4347, P.O.CALICUT UNIVERSITY, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT – 673 635. BY ADVS. SRI. V. TEK CHAND, SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. P. C. SASIDHARAN, SC, CALICUT UNIVERSITY THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.04.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
W.A.6
The judgment continues below.
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