Smti Miti Nyigang Kakki vs. The State Of A.P.
Original PDF →Facts
The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Nari Division, East Siang District, invited item rate tenders for construction works. The tender notice (NIT) dated 17.08.2023 stipulated five eligibility requirements, including submission of Arunachal Pradesh GST Registration Certificate, No Due Certificate, and affidavits confirming no two ongoing commitment works and the truthfulness of submitted documents. The writ petitioner and private respondent No. 2 participated. A check list prepared by a Board of Members found the petitioner submitted all required documents, while respondent No. 2 and two other bidders failed to submit certain mandatory affidavits. Despite this, the tender evaluation board accepted respondent No. 2's bid and issued a letter of acceptance dated 25.09.2023. The petitioner challenged this acceptance order.
Held
The Court held that the tender notice dated 17.08.2023 clearly outlined five eligibility requirements, including the submission of specific affidavits. The check list prepared by the Board of Members, which was not denied by the State respondents, categorically found that respondent No. 2 did not submit two essential documents: the affidavit stating the bidder does not have two ongoing commitment works and the affidavit stating that the submitted documents are true and correct. The Court found that the tender evaluation board, having identified these deficiencies in the check list, could not have proceeded to accept respondent No. 2's bid by issuing comparative statements. The submission of these two documents was a pre-condition for eligibility. Therefore, the decision-making process was vitiated, rendering the impugned order dated 25.09.2023, accepting respondent No. 2's bid, illegal. The Court set aside the impugned order and directed the respondent authorities to consider the bid submitted by the petitioner, as it was the only eligible bid.
Key Issues
1. Whether the impugned order dated 25.09.2023, accepting the bid of respondent No. 2, could have been issued when respondent No. 2 had allegedly not submitted two vital documents as per the tender notice dated 17.08.2023, thereby failing to meet a pre-condition for eligibility? (Question of mixed law and fact, turning on the interpretation and application of the tender conditions). Petitioner's contention: The impugned order is illegal as respondent No. 2 failed to submit two crucial documents, which were mandatory for tender participation. Revenue/State's contention: Both the petitioner and respondent No. 2 exceeded the variation limit prescribed under Section 73 of the CPWD Manual. Respondent No. 2 did submit an affidavit stating they do not have two ongoing commitment works, but the affidavit confirming the truthfulness of statements was not submitted. However, the fact that the affidavit regarding ongoing works was submitted was not reflected in the opposition filed by the State respondents. Respondent No. 2's contention: Respondent No. 2 submitted all required documents, including the affidavits, and there is no illegality in issuing the letter of acceptance.
Sections Cited
Section 73
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