Call for fresh tender for operating taxi stand: HC to S Rly

The Madras High Court has directed Southern Railways to call for a fresh tender for parking and operating a call taxi stand at the Central Railway station here and finalise it by March 23 2019,enabling the new successful tenderer to continue operations without any break.

Justice S M Subramaniam gave the direction on petitions by Bharathi Cabs Pvt Ltd. and Fast Track Pvt. Ltd, and permitted Ani Technologies Pvt Ltd to operate the cab services from September 24, 2018 to March 23, 2019, in whose favour the tender was already finalised.

While the petition filed by Bharathi Cabs sought to quash the August 2 2017 tender notification, the one by Fast Track sought cancellation of the letter issued on October 26 by Southern Railways to Ani Technologies Pvt.Ltd. for submission of documents before taking up the contract.

Disposing of the petitions, the judge said, "The facts and circumstances of the present case on hand certainly require an application of the legal principle of legitimate expectations, more specifically, in favour of Ani Technologies Private Limited, who is the successful bidder in the Tender.

Accordingly, this Court is of an opinion that Ani Technologies Private Limited must be allowed to operate the Cab services as per the terms and conditions stipulated in the tender notification."
Recording the submissions, the judge said, "The successful bidder, after selection and the issuance of acceptance certificate, would acquire the right of legitimate expectations that he will be permitted to operate the Cab services at the Central Station."