HSRP contract not terminated: govt

Show cause notice first, court told

PANJIM, AUG 12
The State government on Thursday told the Bombay High Court at Goa that they will issue a show cause notice to Shimnit Utsch India Pvt Ltd, before terminating the agreement signed with the company for the implementation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs).
Advocate General Subodh Kantak informed Court that the contract with the company still stands and the government has not yet terminated the agreement.
“A show cause notice will be issued before terminating the contract. The government is still studying the report of Srivastava Committee,” he said.
The Division Bench comprising of Justice A S Oka and Justice F M Reis was hearing a fresh petition filed by Shimnit Utsch asking the court to have an interim relief order on the termination of the contract.
Earlier, Advocate A S Nadkarni, appearing on behalf of the company pointed out that they have not been issued any show cause notice over the termination of the contract.
“The company has not been taken into confidence before deciding over termination of the contract,” he stated.
The advocate pointed out that all the allegations made by the government committee does not stand after awarding the contract. These points should have been highlighted before awarding the tender.
The Srivastava committee, appointed by the government, had pointed out several irregularities in the HSRP contract and had said that the tender process has been vitiated by the government.
The State cabinet thereafter had taken a decision to terminate the contract with Shimnit Utsch.