Easy Trip Planners Ltd. v. Union Of India & ANR.

$~38 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 11496/2024 & CM Nos.47702-03/2024 EASY TRIP PLANNERS LTD.

.....Petitioner Through:

Mr Saurabh Kirpal, Sr Adv. with Ms Priyanka Sethia, Ms Devika Mohan, Ms Poonam Shekhawat and Ms Adya Luthra, Advs.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr Shashank Garg, CGSC with Ms Aradhya Chaturvedi and Ms Nishtha Jain, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL

O R D E R

% 21.08.2024 [Physical Hearing/Hybrid Hearing (as per request)] CM No.47703/2024 1.

Allowed, subject to just exceptions.

W.P.(C) 11496/2024 & CM No.47702/2024 [Application filed on behalf of the petitioner seeking interim relief] 2.

This writ petition seeks to assail the notice dated 21.06.2024 issued by respondent no.2/Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, whereby it annulled the tender process in terms of "clause (xiii)(k) of Chapter III of the RFP". 2.1 The record discloses that the tender was issued on 24.07.2023 seeking a Request for Proposal [RPF] for „Outsourcing of Consular-Passport-Visa The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

(CPV)-OCI-Attestation services at Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and Consulate General of India, Dubai‟.

3.

Mr Saurabh Kirpal, learned senior counsel, who appears on behalf of the petitioner, says that no reasons have been accorded for cancellation of the tender.

4.

Mr Shashank Garg, Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC), who appears on advance notice on behalf of respondent no.1/UOI, on instructions, says that respondent no.1/UOI is in the process of issuing a fresh tender; an exercise which is likely to reach culmination within the next two (2) to three (3) months.

5.

A perusal of the prayer clause „A‟, shows that, in effect, the petitioner not only seeks mandamus from this Court for quashing the aforementioned notice cancelling the tender but also in the alternative, issuance of a direction for withdrawal of the notice and consequentially, being directed to conclude the tender process in a time bound manner, albeit, in the larger public interest.

6.

Besides this, a direction is also sought via prayer clause „B‟ to call upon the respondent to submit the record concerning the RFP dated 24.07.2023.

6.1 In addition thereto, a direction is sought, inter alia, for calling the record concerning the annulment of the tender. 7.

Given the nature of the reliefs sought and the statement made by Mr Garg, on instructions, we are not inclined to entertain the writ action at this juncture. This is not a case where the tender was awarded and thereafter, cancelled. Had a situation arisen, perhaps, Mr Kripal‟s contention would The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

have had weight.

7.1 In any event, the writ action appears to be premature. 8.

The writ petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. 9.

Consequently, the pending application shall stand closed. 10.

RAJIV SHAKDHER, J AMIT BANSAL, J AUGUST 21, 2024/aj Click here to check corrigendum, if any The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.