A A CATERING CO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioners have made a very limited challenge to the Catering Policy, 2005 issued by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India under its Commercial Circular No. 8 of 2005 dated 16th March, 2005 (for short the 2005 Policy).

(2.) In an earlier policy circulated by Commercial Circular No.26 of 2004 dated 5th October, 2004 (for short the 2004 Policy), the Railways had provided, in Clause 8 thereof, a ceiling limit on holdings. The relevant portion of the 2004 Policy reads as follows:

(3.) The change made in the 2005 Policy, with which we are concerned, is the deletion of the words business group. It was the contention of the Petitioners that the deletion of these words deserves to be struck down and consequent advertisements issued for awarding catering contracts under the 2005 Policy should be quashed. Additionally, the Petitioners submit that the change has been made to favour Respondent No.4 M/s R.K. Associates.