‘Govt decision on distribution work of shoes, socks to kids arbitrary’

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court said the state government’s decision to distribute among bidders the task of supply of shoes and socks to students of state-run primary schools prima facie appeared to be arbitrary.

Fixing June 28 as the next date of hearing, the court summoned the original records of the tendering process.

The vacation bench of justice Rajan Roy and justice Daya Shankar Tripathi passed the order on a writ petition filed by Khadim India Ltd, a bidder who challenged the state government’s decision and letter of intent dated June 5 to distribute work for supply of shoes to 10 bidders and of socks to five bidders.

The petitioner alleged that letter of intent was issued to some private firms in violation of the terms and conditions of the tender. The counsel for opposite party contested the petitioner’s charges.

On June 12, the court had listed the case for June 14 and summoned original records of the tender process. The court also directed that a joint secretary rank officer should be present before the court.

“Prima facie there appears to be some anomaly and the burden is on the state to justify its action,” the court said.

On June 14, a special secretary appeared before the court with records and sought time till June 15 to discuss the matter with the authorities concerned and inform the court.

On June 15, chief standing counsel Ramesh Pandey requested the court to list the case for June 28 saying that the deliberations in pursuance of the earlier order of the court could not take place as the principal secretary and other officials concerned were out of station.

The court said the original records should again be produced before it on the next date of hearing.