HC dismisses plea seeking stalling of tender process

The Madras High Court today dismissed a plea seeking stalling of the tender process floated by the state government to procure over one lakh medical kits meant to be distributed under a welfare scheme for children.

A division bench of Justice M Venugopal and Justice M Nirmal Kumar passed the dismissal order on the plea moved by Mohammed Rafik, a resident of Ramanathapuram district.

The petitioner alleged that authorities have diluted the tender rules to favour certain companies that are close to the people heading the government.

He wanted the court to stall the current tender process and direct the government to float fresh tender in a transparent manner.

When the plea came up, advocate-general Vijay Narayan submitted that a third party, who has not participated in a tender process, cannot challenge such process under PIL.

The bench dismissed the plea, concurring with the submission.