Umesh Shankarrao Bhole And Others v. State Of Maha., Thr.Secretary, Dept. Of Agriculture, Animal Husb., Dairy And Fisheries And ORS

1 935pil34.2024..odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,

NAGPUR BENCH, AT NAGPUR.

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 34 OF 2024 (Umesh Shankarrao Bhole and others Vs. State of Maharashtra and others) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Rohit Joshi, Advocate for petitioners.

Mr. D.V. Chavan, Government Pleader for respondent Nos. 1 and 4. CORAM : NITIN W. SAMBRE & ABHAY J. MANTRI, JJ.

DATED : 07 -0 8 -2024 Heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties. 2.

The respondent Nos. 2 and 3 have decided to procure agricultural equipments, such as Battery Operated Sprayer, Nano Urea, Nano D.A.P., Metaldehyde Pesticide and Cotton Bag to be made available to the farmers, who are the ultimate beneficiaries.

3.

It is claimed by Mr. Joshi, the learned counsel for the petitioners, that the procurement of items are comparatively at much higher rate. So as to substantiate the said contention, it is brought to our notice that the Cotton Bag is sought to be procured @ Rs. 1250/- per unit, which was procured by the Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur in the year 2022 @ Rs. 577/- per unit. It is further claimed that the State Handloom Corporation had procured the very same item @ Rs. 714/- per unit in the year 2023. As such, it is claimed that the procurement is at much higher cost so as to benefit the Contractor.

2 935pil34.2024..odt 4.

Issue notice to the respondents for final disposal, returnable on 14.8.2024.

5.

Mr. Chavan, the learned Government Pleader waives service of notice for respondent Nos. 1 and 4. 6.

We direct the respondent Nos. 2 and 3 to disclose the name of the Contractor and also place on record the purchase order, if any, issued to the Contractor with entire details including that of the bid document. 7.

We deem it appropriate to direct that until further orders, no disbursement of payment be made to the Contractor.

8.

Service of notice on respondent Nos. 2 and 3 by permissible private mode is allowed.

(ABHAY J. MANTRI, J.) (NITIN W. SAMBRE, J.) Belkhede Signed by: Mr. R. S. Belkhede Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 09/08/2024 12:11:58