Court says tender process was not arbitrary and not illegal GVK plea over 108 bid dismissed

The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday upheld the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government to handover a contract to run 108 ambulance services in the 13 districts to BVG India Ltd and UK Specialist Ambulance Services Ltd.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili has dismissed an appeal by GVK Emergency Management Research challenging an order of single judge approving the AP government’s action.

The petitioner complained to the court that the authorities have decided to award the contract to BVG India and UK Specialist Ambulance Services though they did not have requisite three years experience in the operation of “Pre-Hospital Emergency Response Service" as required under the eligibility criteria of Request for Proposal (RFP).

The single judge dismissed the petition holding that the decision-making process by the authorities does not indicate showing favourtism on any particular party and therefore he said the process adopted cannot be said to be arbitrary or illegal.

While concurring with the findings of the single judge, the bench noted that the consortium satisfied the requirement of RFP and it has quoted rates to run the services less than the appellant. The bench, hence, noted that the appeal devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed.

The bench refused the request of the appellant to stay the operation of the order for 15 days. two stair house without paying compensation, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government and the Special Collector (Land Acquisition) and the Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition) of Polavaram Irrigation Project to maintain status quo as on today with regard a land and the house in Epigunta village of West Godavari district.

Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy while dealing with a petition by Ms. Kantamaneni Sujanavalli a resident of Hyderabad seeking to declare the action of the authorities in trying to demolish her house and acquire 734 square yards of land in the village without paying compensation under the Land Acquisition Act 2013.

The petitioner told the court that the 734 square yards land was gifted to her by mother in law and they had build a house in 334 square yards and the government issued a notification in 2016 acquiring the land for construction of Chinthalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme and passed the award without considering their objections.

While granting status quo, the directed the authorities to produce the records of the case.