ROMA D. SANGMA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. K.N. Choudhury, learned Sr. counsel assisted by Mr. A. Mir, learned counsel for the petitioner. Ms. A. Paul, learned ASG for the respondent No. 1 and 2, Mr. B. Bhattacharjee, learned AAG assisted by Ms. I. Lyngwa, learned GA for the respondent No. 3 to 8 and Mr. B. Laitmon, learned counsel for the respondent No. 9.

(2.) The brief facts of the case is that the petitioner by way of this writ petition, has put a challenge to the power and authority of the Directorate of Tourism to issue NIT dated 05.03.2019. The ground taken is that the NIT dated 05.03.2019, is inconsistent with, and in violation of letter dated 15.01.2019 of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India more particularly Clause 4.6 of the "Swadesh Darshan Scheme Guidelines for Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourism Circuits in the Country ". The contention of the writ petitioner is that it is only the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation, which has been designated as the 'Implementing Agency ' that has the exclusive power and authority to issue the NIT dated 05.03.2019.Therefore, according to the petitioner, since the NIT has been issued without any authority of law by the Directorate of Tourism, any work order issued pursuant to the impugned NIT dated 05.03.2019 will be non-est and void, for which eligible prospective bidders such as the Petitioner are apprehensive to participate in. Hence the writ petition.

(3.) Mr. K.N. Choudhury, learned Sr. counsel assisted by Mr. A. Mir, learned counsel for the petitioner opens his submissions by referring to the "Swadesh Darshan Scheme Guidelines for Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourism Circuits in the Country ". He submits that the said Scheme was launched in the year 2014-2015, to develop tourist centers and circuits on specific themes, or attracting tourists having special interest in visiting such places. In this regard, he submits under the said scheme, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had framed guidelines for the development of theme based tourist circuits. Under the scheme guideline she stated it is provided for a National Steering Committee (NSC) to be headed by the Minister of Tourism, and for a Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) and this Committee was responsible for the projects apart from monitoring the progress of implementation.