Chennai: Madras high court has restrained the state government from finalising tender for free distribution of sarees and dhoties scheme for 2018 Pongal festival.
When the petition from Sri Venkatram Spinners Private Limited, Cholapuram, came up for hearing before Justice M. Duraiswamy, the judge passed the interim order.
The state government has been directed not to confirm the tender in favour of the successful bidder till July 13 and also not to reject the bid submitted by the petitioner.
The petitioner engaged in yarn manufacturing business has challenged the tender document mandating to obtain zero liquid discharge certificate from Pollution Control Board as a prerequisite to participate in the tender.
The company has an agreement with a dyeing firm located in Mumbai. On June 22, the state government issued a tender notification for supply of 60sc dyed cotton wrap yarn for production of sarees and dhoties meant to be distributed
free of cost for Pongal scheme-2018.
“Though the tender is an all India tender, clause 5 of the tender document mandates the participant company to obtain a zero liquid distribution certificate from the pollution control board concerned,” he said.
“As Tamil Nadu is the only state enforcing zero liquid discharge condition for dyeing units, it is impossible for participants from other parts of the country to obtain such certificate,” the company said.
In Maharashtra, dyeing units are allowed to discharge effluents into the sea at a prescribed depth. Consent certificates are issued by the pollution control board.
When the fact being so, clause 5 in the tender document I structured in such a manner to exclude bidders from other states by imposing zero liquid discharge certificate. The move is highly arbitrary and in gross violation of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the constitution.
