Sandeep Ramesh Bhandare v. Union Of India Throu. The Sec. Road And Transport Dept And ORS

by JYOTI PRAKASH PAWAR Date: 2025.02.03 18:05:39 +0530 JYOTI PRAKASH PAWAR JPP 905. WP 1302.25.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 1302 OF 2025 Sandeep Ramesh Bhandare

...Petitioner

V/s.

Union of India through the Secretary, Road and Transport Deptt. and Ors.

... Respondents _______________________________________ Ms. Iraa Dube Patil with Ramesh Dube Patil, Shraddha Dube Patil and Ashish Gabhale i/b. Jay & Co. for the Petitioner Mr. Ashutosh Misra for Respondent No.1 - UOI Mr. O.A. Chandurkar, Addl.G.P. with Ms. G.R. Raghuwanshi, AGP with Mr. A.R. Deolekar, AGP for Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 Mr. Girish Godbole, Senior Advocate with Mr. Shanay Shah and Ms. Warisha Parkar i/b. Ms. Warisha Parkar for the Respondent No.5 Mr. Aman Preet Singh Rahi for Respondent No.6 (through V.C.) Mr. Nalin Bajaj with Aishwarya Pawar i/b. M/s. Metalegal for Respondent No.7 _______________________________________ CORAM : ALOK ARADHE, CJ. AND BHARATI DANGRE, J.

DATE : 31st JANUARY 2025 P.C. :

1.

In this Writ Petition, the Petitioner has seeks quashment of Circular No. 68/2024 dated 03.12.2024, issued by the Respondent No.3 - Transport Commissioner, Government of Maharashtra. By the aforesaid Circular, the group of companies of Respondent Nos. 5,6 and 7 were appointed in three different zones in the State of Maharashtra to affix High Security Registration 1/3

JPP 905. WP 1302.25.doc Plates (HSRP) to the vehicles manufactured and registered prior to 01.04.2019.

2.

Facts giving rise to filing this Writ Petition are briefly stated that the Tender Notice dated 28.08.2023 was issued by the Transport Commissioner inviting the bids for supplying High Security Registration Plates in respect of old vehicles registered prior to 01.04.2019. The Petitioner did not participate in the aforesaid notice inviting the tender as the Petitioner was disqualified. Admittedly, the Petitioner did not fulfill the eligibility criteria and therefore, did not participate in the notice inviting the tender. 3.

The Respondent No.3, the Transport Commissioner, completed the courses of inviting tender and eventually issued a work order dated 23.12.2024, by which the contract was awarded in favour of group of companies of Respondent Nos.5,6 and 7.

4.

We have heard the learned Counsel for the Petitioner. 5.

The Petitioner was not eligible to participate in the notice inviting the tender dated 28.8.2023. The Petitioner permitted the process initiated in pursuance of notice inviting tender dated 28.08.2023 to complete and when a Circular dated 03.12.2024 was issued by the Transport Commissioner awarding the contract, thereafter, this Petition has been filed. In other words, the Petitioner remained inert and the Writ Petition filed by the 2/3

JPP 905. WP 1302.25.doc Petitioner suffered from delay and latches which also disentitles the Petitioner to any relief in exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, even which otherwise it is discretionary.

6.

In view of preceding analysis, we do not find any merit in the Petition. The same is accordingly dismissed.

( BHARATI DANGRE, J. ) ( CHIEF JUSTICE ) 3/3