The Delhi High Court has stayed the effect of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) order dated October 12, 2026, debarring Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited from participating in tenders issued by the Ministry’s executing agencies for two years.
Justice Amit Mahajan passed the interim order after noting that the incident underlying MoRTH’s debarment order was the same as the one involved in an earlier challenge to a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) order against the company.
Also Read Liability Under Continuing Guarantee Subsisted Until Discharge Of Outstanding Debt: NCLT
The company had earlier been declared a ‘non-performer’ by NHAI through an order dated September 30, 2026, which debarred it from participating in bids for one year and imposed a penalty of ₹10.6 crore. The Delhi High Court had stayed the operation of that order on October 13, 2026.
Before the Court, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the subsequent MoRTH order would effectively nullify the interim protection granted by the Court in the earlier proceedings.
Taking note of the submissions and the fact that both debarment orders arose from the same incident, the Court stayed the effect of the impugned MoRTH order until the next date of hearing.
The Court issued notice to the Union of India and directed it to file its reply, if any, within four weeks. The matter has been listed for final hearing on January 5, 2027.
