Madras High Court
Manjeet Kapoor vs Tamil Nadu Textbook And Educational ... on 20 December, 2019
Author: C.V.Karthikeyan
Bench: C.V.Karthikeyan
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Reserved on : 10.12.2019
Pronounced on : 20.12.2019
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN
W.P.No.32965 of 2019
Manjeet Kapoor
Proprietor M/s. Manjeet Plastic Industries,
30/56 West Punjabi Bagh,
New Delhi – 110026.
.. Petitioner
..Vs..
Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corp.
Rep.by its Managing Director,
68, E.V.K.Sampath Maaligai,
D.P.I.Campus, College Road,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600 006. .. Respondent
PRAYER : Petition filed Under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the
respondent herein to disclose the outcome of his financial/price
bid with reasons including the lab reports of his Technical Bid
submitted in tender viz a viz the petitioner and the successful
tenderers bearing reference number 558/PUR-II/2019 for supply
and delivery of school bags to the School Children in Tamil Nadu
on annual rate contract basis for the year 2019-2020.
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For Petitioner : Mr.Shreyas Dharmadhikari
For respondent : Mr.C.Munusamy
Spl. Govt. Pleader, Education.
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed in the nature of Mandamus seeking direction against the respondent namely, the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation represented by its Managing Director, to disclose the outcome of the financial/price bid with reasons including the lab reports of the Technical Bid submitted by the petitioner in Ref. No. 558/PUR-II/2019 for supply and delivery of school bag to the school children in Tamil Nadu on annual rate contract basis for the year 2019 – 2020.
2. The petitioner, Manjeet Kapoor, Proprietor M/s.Manjeet Plastic Industries of New Delhi, claims to be in the manufacturing of Footwear and School Bags for children for over 40 years and also claims that he has earned reputation in the said field. He also claims that he has successfully completed projects of similar nature for many Government Organizations including that of the respondent. He has a manufacturing unit at http://www.judis.nic.in 3 Haryana and has undertaken supplies to various institutions.
3. The respondent is an organization promoted by the Tamil Nadu Government responsible for supply of Textbooks to the students in the State of Tamil Nadu and in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The respondent has also undertaken the responsibility of supply of School bags to the school children for the academic year 2019 – 2020. The respondent had floated a tender bearing reference RC.No.558/PUR-II/2019 for supply and delivery of school bag to the school children in Tamil Nadu on an annual rate contract basis. The tender was in two parts namely, Part-A and Part-B. Part-A was the technical bid and Part-B was the price bid. The bidders will also have to submit three samples of the school bag in each size namely, small, medium and large which had been manufactured in accordance with the specifications, as mentioned in the tender document along with Part-A namely, the Technical Bid. It is also stated that a meeting prior to the bid was held on 23.03.2019 and the last date for submission of the tender was on 03.06.2019 till 03.30 p.m. The petitioner had submitted their bid for supply and delivery of school bags. They had also paid the requisite Earnest Money http://www.judis.nic.in 4 Deposit and had also brought the samples as per specifications.
4. It was stated that there were nine bidders. A Writ in W.P.No.23823 of 2019 was filed alleging that a cartel had been formed in the tender bearing RC.No.558/PUR-II/2019 and consequently, seeking a direction against the respondent to consider their representation and also to reject the bidders who had formed the cartel. Initially an interim order was granted by this Court, but subsequently, on 23.10.2019 this Court permitted the respondent to proceed further in the tender and to open the price bid. The petitioner had preferred a RTI application dated 08.10.2019 relating to the tender, since, the respondent had failed to disclose the requested information pertaining to the tender, it was stated that the Court had recorded the submissions of the learned Advocate General that an Expert Committee is the most suitable committee to assess and take decision on the difference of opinion on the recommendations from the two laboratories with respect to the quality test of the samples and after considering all the aspects, the respondent was directed to open the tender bids. The petitioner also relied on Rule 32-A (4) of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tender http://www.judis.nic.in 5 Rules, 2000 which reads as follows:
“(4) At the conclusion of the first stage, the Tender Accepting Authority shall pre-quality the tenderers that fulfill the eligibility criteria, and promptly notify each tenderer whether or not it has been pre-qualified and shall upon request communicate to the tenderers that have not been pre-qualified the reasons therefor:
Provided that if the Tender Accepting Authority is of the view that the number of pre- qualified Tenderers is too small to have an effective competition, the authority may decide not to proceed further with the Tender.
(5) In the second stage, the Tender Accepting Authority shall invite financial tenders from the pre-qualified and short-listed tenderers.”
5. It was stated that each tenderer had to be notified whether they are qualified or not and reasons should be given to ensure transparency and fairness. It had been stated in the writ http://www.judis.nic.in 6 petition that the respondent had not answered or given the requisite details with respect to the representations made by the petitioner dated 30.10.2019. It was stated that the entire process was not in consonance with law and due procedure as laid down by the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tender Rules, 2000. It was also stated that the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Government of India by its General Financial Rules, 2005, had notified certain provisions to be followed in tender procurement process and particularly reference has been drawn to Rules 160 and 174 which reads as follows:
“Rule 160. Transparency, competition, fairness and elimination of arbitrariness in the procurement process:
(ii) Suitable provision should be kept in the bidding document to enable a bidder to question the bidding documents, bidding process and/or rejection of its bid.
Rule 174. Evaluation of Technical Bids:
Technical bids should be analyzed and
evaluated by a Consultancy Evaluation
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Committee (CEC) constituted by the Ministry or Department. The CEC shall record in detail the reasons for acceptance or rejection of the technical proposals analyzed and evaluated by it”
6. It was also stated that the Central Vigilance Commission, Government of India had issued an Office Order for transparency in tendering system by Office Order No.72/12/04 dated 10.12.2004. The relevant portion to the said order is as follows:
“In order to maintain transparency and fairness, it would be appropriate that organizations should evolve a practice of finalizing the acceptability of the bidding firms in respect of the qualifying criteria before or during holding technical negotiations with him. Obtaining revised price bids from the firms, which do not meet the qualification criteria, would be incorrect. Therefore the exercise of shortlisting of the qualifying firms must be completed prior to seeking the revised price http://www.judis.nic.in 8 bids. Moreover, the intimation of rejection to the firms whose bids have been evaluation but found not to meet the qualification criteria, along with the return of the un-opened price bid, will enhance transparency and plug the loop-holes in the tendering system. All organizations/departments are advised to frame a policy accordingly”.
7. It was further stated that Sections 10 and 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, would be rendered null if the information on the technical evaluation was not shared with the tenders. Sections 10 and 11 of the Tamil Nadu Tenders Act, 1998 are as follows:
Sec.10. Evaluation and Acceptance of Tender.- (1) The Tender Accepting Authority shall cause an objective evaluation of the tenders taking into consideration the schedule of rates as mentioned in the tender document and the prevailing market rate for procurement and comparison of the tenders in accordance with the procedure and criteria specified http://www.judis.nic.in 9 in the tender document.
(2) After evaluation and comparison of tenders as specified in sub-section (1), the Tender Accepting Authority shall accept the lowest tender ascertained on the basis of objective and quantifiable factors specified in the tender document and giving relative weights among them.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub- section (2), if the Tender Accepting Authority decides that the price of the lowest tender is higher with reference to the prevailing market rate or the schedule of rates, 9[the said authority] may negotiate for a reduction of price with that tenderer.
(4) If at any time before the acceptance of tender, the Tender Accepting Authority receives information that a tenderer who has submitted tender has been banned by any Procuring Entity, 9[the said authority] shall not accept the tender of that tenderer even if it may be the lowest tender.
(5) In case where two or more tenderers quoted the same price, the Tender Accepting Authority shall http://www.judis.nic.in 10 split the procurement among such tenderers taking into consideration the experience and credentials of such tenderers. Where such splitting is not possible or could not be done equally, 9[the said authority] shall record reasons for the same.
(6) If the Tender Accepting Authority proposes to accept the tender as per the provisions of this section, 9[the said authority] shall pass orders accepting the tender together with reasons for such acceptance. 10[Provided that if the tenderer is unable to supply the entire quantity required, the Tender Accepting Authority may follow the fixed rate contract procedure as may be prescribed.] (7) The Tender Accepting Authority shall intimate the information regarding the name and address of the tenderer whose tender has been accepted along with the reasons for rejection of other tenders to the appropriate Tender Bulletin Officers. Sec.11. Appeal.- (1) Any tenderer aggrieved by the order passed by the Tender Accepting Authority under http://www.judis.nic.in 11 section 10 may appeal to the Government within ten days from the date of receipt of order and the Government shall dispose the appeal within fifteen days from the date of receipt.
(2) In disposing of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Government may, after giving the party an opportunity of making his representations, pass such order thereon as they may deem fit.
(3) The order of the Government on such appeal shall be final.
(4) The Government may, pending the exercise of their powers under this section pass such interlocutory orders as they may deem fit.
8. It was under these circumstances, that the writ petition was filed in the nature of Mandamus seeking disclosure of the outcome of the financial/price bid with reasons including the laboratory results and technical bid of the petitioner.
9. When the writ petition came up for hearing, Mr.R.Govindasamy, learned Special Government Pleader, who had taken notice on behalf of the respondent, brought to the http://www.judis.nic.in 12 attention of this Court, the letter written by the Managing Director of the respondent/Corporation dated 29.11.2019 in R.C.No.558/Pur-II/2019 and addressed the petitioner herein. The entire letter is extracted below for ready reference:
“Tmt.S.Jayandhi, I.A.S., Managing Director R.C.No.558/Pur-II/2019. Date:29.11.2019. To:
M/s.Manjeet Plastic Industries., 30/56, West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi – 110026.
Sir/Madam, Sub: TNTB & ESC – TNTB & ESC – Procurement of School Bag for the year 2019-20 – Details of Tender Activities uploaded in the website – Intimation sent – reg.
Ref: Tender No.558/Pur-II/2019, dated 05.03.2019.
In the reference cited, the tender for the procurement of School Bag for the year 2019-20 has been floated. The http://www.judis.nic.in 13 Tender has been finalized and accepted the negotiated rate by the competent authority and vide Resolution No.203 dated 04.11.2019, subject to result of Writ Petition No.23823/2019 pending in Hon'ble High Court of Madras.
The details of Tender activities has been uploaded in the following websites:
a). http://www.textbookcorp.tn.nic.in
b). http://www.tenders.tn.gov.in This is for your information.
(Sd/-) Managing Director”
10. The learned Special Government Pleader also brought to the notice of this Court, about a further letter dated 04.12.2019 in R.C.No.11739/PUR-II/2019, issued by the Public Information Officer of the respondent with respect to the information sought under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act. The said letter is also extracted below for better appreciation:
“R.C.No.11739/PUR-II/2019 Dated:04.12.2019 From General Manager and http://www.judis.nic.in 14 The Public Information Officer Tamilnadu Textbook and Educational Service Corporation E.V.K.Sampath Maaligai No.68, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.
To, M/s.Manjeet Plastic Industries, 30/56 West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi – 110026.
Sir, Sub: TNTB&ESC – Petition under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 – providing information relating to test reports relating to Tender RC.No.558/PUR-II/2019 – School Bags – Reg.
Ref: Petition from Manjeet Plastic Industries New Delhi – 110026 dated 06.11.2019 received on 11.11.2019.
With reference to your application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 dated 06.11.2019, you are informed that the information sought for under SL.No.1 cannot be supplied for the following reason.
The Tender bearing RC.No.558/PUR-II/2019 is a subject matter of litigation under W.P.No.23823 of 2019 pending on the file of the Madras High Court and the information sought by you is confidential. Since the W.P.No.23823 of 2019, is pending, the information sought for by you cannot be supplied.
If you are not satisfied by the above reply, you may http://www.judis.nic.in 15 prefer an appeal before the Appellate Authority within 30 days from the date of receipt of this reply. The details of the Appellate Authority is provided below:
Name of the Appellate Authority : Tmt. N.Latha Designation : Member Secretary Address : Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Service Corporation, E.V.K.Sampath Maaligai, No.68, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.
Telephone No. : 044-2827 5851 / 2827 6397 / 2827 8244.
Email ID : [email protected] Website : textbookcorp.tn.gov.in”
11. The learned counsel for the petitioner took umbrage at the stand of the respondent. It was stated that the respondent had stated that the details had been uploaded in the website, but the learned counsel insisted that the petitioner should have been independently and individually informed about the reasons for the disqualification. It was also stated that the disqualification was quite contrary to the provisions under Sections 10 and 11 of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998. It was stated that the respondent acted malafide in rejecting tender submitted by the petitioner herein. Therefore, learned counsel urged that http://www.judis.nic.in 16 this Court should interfere with the entire process.
12. In this Connection, the learned counsel also relied on the judgment of the Delhi High Court, in W.P.(C).No.2092 of 2012 and C.M.No.4549 of 2012, M/s.Amit Brothers V. Chief Engineer, R and D and Another. The Division Bench of the Delhi High Court had observed as follows:
“We may note that we have repeatedly
emphasized in various orders/judgments that
whenever a tender is rejected or tender documents are not issued and a party enquires reasons, it is necessary that the reasons be communicated to such a party to avoid unnecessary litigation as otherwise the first round of litigation is to find out the reasons and the second round of litigation is to challenge the reasons. Despite this, the authorities persist in keeping silent over such representations, which we strongly deprecate. We call upon the learned standing counsel for UOI to ensure that all the Government departments are circulated a communication to disclose reasons in such cases where enquiries are made by a contracting party to http://www.judis.nic.in 17 avoid unnecessary litigation and a compliance is sort be filed within two weeks. A copy of this order be circulated along with the communication.”
13. It was therefore stated that whenever a tender is rejected or tender documents are not produced to avoid unnecessary litigation, the reasons should be disclosed by the respondents.
14. I have carefully considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the respondent.
15. It is true that the petitioner had submitted his bid for supply of school bag for the students studying in Tamil Nadu for the year 2019 - 2020. It is to be mentioned that the respondent had advertised for the tender on 05.03.2019 itself and much prior to the commencement of the academic year, but now in December – 2019 nearly after nine months, litigations have stalled both the procurement of school bags and supply of school bags to the school children.
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16. The petitioner cannot claim a right to be considered for the supply and cannot claim a right to be chosen as a supplier of school bag. They should satisfy the conditions of the tender. The litigation in the earlier writ petition was that a cartel had been formed. The reasons for disqualifying the petitioner had been uploaded in the website as stated in the communication by the respondent dated 29.11.2019. If the petitioner was aggrieved by the same, then such rejection should have been challenged in manner known to law.
17. A Writ of Mandamus would not lie in the teeth of the orders passed by the respondent. Mandamus would lie for a direction to be issued, but when an order is passed then such order has to be challenged. A Writ of Certiorari would have to be filed to call for the records and challenge the orders. In a writ petition for certiorari the Court could call for the records from the respondent. But inspite of remonstrations made by the Court, the learned counsel for the petitioner insisted that information should be given to the petitioner. It is a fact that information as required should be given. But, the Court can insist on production of such information only in appropriate proceedings. The writ http://www.judis.nic.in 19 had been filed seeking a Mandamus to consider the bid of the petitioner. The bid had been considered and rejected by the respondent. They have given the reasons in the orders passed. The order can be questioned that it had been passed without opportunity of being heard. It can also be questioned, when in the guise of opportunity, a due representation had been rejected. It can also be challenged when reasons have not been given to justify the conclusion.
18. At any rate, the underlying factor is that, the order should be challenged. The order should be questioned and the order should be called in question only in appropriate proceedings. In a Writ of Mandamus, the order of an authority cannot be questioned. A Writ of Mandamus, by its nature, is only to seek a direction to the respondent. The writ petitioner would be well advised to file an appropriate writ or any other proceedings to seek the relief. With respect to the communication under the Right to Information Act, it had been very clearly stated by the Public Information Officer that an appeal would lie before the Appellate Authority within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the reply. The Appellate http://www.judis.nic.in 20 Authority had also been given namely, Tmt.N.Latha, Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, E.V.K. Sampath Maaligai, No.68, College Road, Chennai – 600 006. The office number of the Authority had also been given namely, 044-2827 5851 / 2827 6397 / 2827 8244, e- mail ID of the authority had also been given namely, [email protected] and website had also been given namely, textbookcorp.tn.gov.in. I wonder what further details should be given to the petitioner to enable him to file an appeal against the order. Even in the order seeking details of the tender activities, it had been very clearly stated that the details have been uploaded in the following websites:
“1. http://www.textbookcorp.tn.nic.in
2. http://www.tenders.tn.gov.in”
19. With respect to the judgment of the Delhi High Court, I have no quarrel with the ratio laid down therein. But in this case, the respondent had actually given the details and had uploaded the details in the website which process cannot be faulted. It is for the petitioner to examine the reasons for their disqualification.
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20. With the above observations, I find no merits in the Writ Petition and accordingly, the same is dismissed. No costs. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner to challenge the orders rejecting his technical bid in manner known to law and liberty is also granted to the petitioner to file a regular appeal before the Appellate Authority with respect to the rejection of his application seeking information under Right to Information Act. If it is so filed, then the period of the pendency of this Writ Petition may be considered, if need arises, while examining the delay, if any, in filing such appeal.
21. In the result, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No order as to costs.
20.12.2019
smv
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
Speaking Order : Yes / No
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To,
Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corp. Rep.by its Managing Director, 68, E.V.K.Sampath Maaligai, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600 006.
http://www.judis.nic.in 24 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN.J, smv Pre-delivery Order made in W.P.No.32965 of 2019 20.12.2019 http://www.judis.nic.in