UNIVERSAL TRANSPORT AGENCY Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. M. Nath, the learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. D. J. Kapil, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner. Mr. K. Gogoi, the learned Additional Senior Government Advocate appears on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 & 2 and Mr. J. Chutia, the learned Standing Counsel of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) appears on behalf of the respondent Nos.4 to 5.

(2.) The petitioner herein is aggrieved by the rejection of its technical bid in the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25/8/2025 as well as the granting of the contract to the private respondents.

(3.) The brief facts of the instant case are that the petitioner was awarded a contract for transportation of rice under NFSA, 2013 within the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council area for the financial year 2019-2020 for Tier 1 and Tier 2. The petitioner continued to render its services against the said contract at the rates which were fixed. The Respondent Authorities being satisfied granted extension to the petitioner from time to time. It is the further case of the petitioner that in the year 2025, it became unfeasible and unviable for the petitioner to continue the contract of handling and transportation work of NFSA food grains in view of the rates, and as such, submitted a representation to the Principal Secretary, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council stating that the petitioner would not like the contract extended beyond 31/3/2024 (the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submitted that it should have been 31/3/2025). Be that as it may, the Respondent Authorities extended the said contract and from the materials on record, and more particularly, the communication dtd. 15/10/2025 issued by the Secretary, FPD & CA, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, it is seen that the petitioner's contract was extended upto December, 2025.