The Rajasthan High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the tender process and work order awarded by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) to Aka Logistics Pvt. Ltd., observing that the petition appeared to be a collateral attempt to settle personal scores and that the petitioners seemed to have been planted by competitors.
A Division Bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Sandeep Shah was hearing a writ petition filed by six individuals claiming to be vigilant citizens and public-spirited persons. The petition sought quashing of the tender process and work order issued in favour of Aka Logistics, along with directions for an independent vigilance/Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry into contracts awarded to the company and certain other entities in RVUNL plants. The petitioners also sought an investigation into the role of senior officials in allegedly preparing restrictive pre-qualification requirements and repeatedly awarding inflated contracts.
After hearing counsel and examining the petition, the Court noted that multiple writ petitions challenging the same work order were already pending before it, filed by various competitors of the successful bidder. In that backdrop, the Bench found that the present petition, though framed as a PIL, was in substance not a genuine public interest action.
The Court observed that the PIL appeared to be nothing but a collateral attempt to settle personal scores and remarked that the petitioners appeared to have been planted by competitors, though it refrained from making further observations on that aspect.
Holding that no interference was warranted, the Court found the petition devoid of merit and dismissed it along with all pending applications.
Appearances:
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Manoj Kumar
For Respondent(s) : Mr. Abhinav Mukherjee (through VC) assisted by Mr. Kartik Seth
