Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notice to the State government over a petition challenging alloting work order to a private firm for structural and renovation repairs of Kala Academy. Petitioner Durgadas Kamat has alleged that Techton Buildcon Pvt Ltd has been illegally alloted the work order since it’s on nomination basis without floating any tender.
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Kamat has sought from the court a Writ, Order or Mandamus directing the State government, Directorate of Art & Culture and the Public Works Department (PWD) to award the entire work by floating a tender and calling for wide participation amongst bidders while specifying the technical qualifications required as well as verifying the technical capabilities of the bidders.
“It will enable the respondents to secure the best bids in a competitive environment in public interest,” the 57-page petition states.
The petitioner further alleged that the entire process of awarding the work on nomination basis is premeditated and orchestrated so as to award the said works to the firm and ‘to make the public believe there is no other qualified contractor in the entire country who could undertake such structural and renovation works’.
“The impugned decision is not taken in public interest and thereby, completely defrauding the public exchequer and is tainted by malafides and favouritism. The allotment of the work is completely illegal and manifestly arbitrary and therefore, must be quashed and set aside,” it appealed adding that government should invite open tenders and specify technical qualifications for selecting an agency to carry out the structural and renovation work.
The court on Monday issued notices to the respondents while adjourning the hearing to October 18.
