AGNES KHARSHIING Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this petition filed as a Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner, said to be a social activist, has brought forth the issues relating to a tender notice ("NIT") bearing No.M. No. SW/SNP/5/2013/Pt/6564-575 dated 30th November, 2016 as issued by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya 'for supply of Ready to Eat Micronutrient Fortified Energy Dense Food Suitable for Children (0-6 Years), Pregnant and Nursing Mothers to Different ICDS Projects in the State . The petitioner has indicated several shortcomings in the said NIT, which put serious questions over the fairness, reasonableness and transparency of the process sought to be adopted by the respondents.

(2.) A copy of this petition was served on the learned Sr.GA on 07.12.2016 and this matter was initially taken up on 13.12.2016, but as prayed for, was adjourned to 14.12.2016. On 14.12.2016, when the learned Sr.GA prayed for yet further time, we adjourned the matter to this date.

(3.) Today, on the matter being taken up, in the first place, learned Sr.GA submitted that the department, after having examined the matter, has tentatively taken the decision to issue a Corrigendum to rectify the deficiencies indicated by the petitioner, particularly as regards the value of the work in question and its duration. However, after finding that the submissions were still wanting in all the relevant particulars and specifications, we posed the following queries to the learned Sr.GA: