Case: Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd  Vs. M/S Amar Infrastructure Ltd

of manipulation in the technical evaluation sheet which has been placed on record by the CSIDC in the form of document R-4/3 and 5/3 and by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. as Annexure P-4 in the High Court.34. The Cyber Crime Cell has observed that some modification was made on 4th July, 2016, in the technical evaluation bid document P-4, a copy of which was filed by the respondent i.e. M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited in the month of April. It was also not reported what change was made in P-4. There was no such manipulation reported in the document of technical evaluation filed by the CSIDC in the High Court. We have seen the stand of CSIDC in its reply to the Writ Application preferred by M/s B.B. Verma which was dismissed by the High Court after looking into same technical evaluation report. The similar stand had been taken by the CSIDC and the very same document of technical evaluation had been placed on record in the aforesaid case as is apparent from the pleadings to which our attention has been drawn by the learned Attorney General. The document relied upon by the CSIDC had been placed on record of said case within a week of finalisation of the financial bid. Immediate filing of the same and taking the stand to the similar effect as has been taken in this matter also vouch for the correctness of document which has been filed by the CSIDC and there is no manipulation in it. As per report of the cyber crime cell also there is no manipulation in the document which has been relied upon by the CSIDC. The question of manipulation as to Hot Mix Plant is of no consequence as it was not a mandatory criteria for opening of financial bid. The ownership or otherwise of the hot mix plant was not at all necessary and the plant was not required as mandatory one for the purpose of pre-qualification stage for opening of financial bid. It was only in the list of approved plant and equipments to be used under the certification of the Engineer-in-charge. It appears that the document P-4 which had been filed by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. contained the evaluation sheet but it was not as per requirement of aforesaid various clauses necessary for pre-qualification stage and non-submission of the information as contended by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. could not have disqualified M/s. Arcons Infrastructure and Constructions Pvt. Ltd. Thus, what was the necessary requirement as per criteria for opening of the financial evaluation had been rightly placed before the Technical Evaluation Committee on 3.3.2016. We have perused the original Minutes and the technical evaluation document filed by CSIDC which were placed before Technical Evaluation Committee, and was signed by the Executive Engineer and had been considered by the Technical Evaluation Committee. The minutes of the Technical Evaluation Committee had also been signed by the aforesaid three officers. Apart from that in the minutes of Technical Evaluation Committee meeting dated 3.3.2016, details of qualifications have been mentioned and that accords with the document of evaluation sheet which has been relied upon by the CSIDC.35. In our opinion, as the hot mix plant was not a mandatory requirement so as to open the financial bid, we decline to go into the submission raised on behalf of the appellants that M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited has not disclosed how and when and from whom and by which process it obtained the document P-4 which is not signed by anybody as the fact remains that the document which is filed by the respondent also existed in the computer of the CSIDC. However, it looms in insignificance owing to the conclusions to which we have reached with respect to the Hot Mix Plant. May be that this document P-4 was also prepared by somebody in the CSIDC but it was not initialed or signed by anybody. It depicted the position of entire tender of L-2 but what was mandatory requirement for pre-qualification stage and technical evaluation was correctly placed before the Technical Evaluation Committee in the form of document R-4/3 and R-5/3. In view of the aforesaid, we are of the opinion that the report of the Cyber Crime Cell is of no consequence with respect to pre-qualification criteria and opening of financial bids, since it is not disputed that successful tenderer L-1 fulfilled all conditions and had Hot Mix Plant also.36. There was no manipulation in the mandatory requirements and may be that P-4 was prepared but that was of no consequence as deficiency of Hot Mix Plant, even if placed before Committee, would not have tilted the balance in favour of the respondent M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited. The Committee on that basis could not have disqualified the L-2 tenderer.37. Coming to the submission raised by the learned counsel for the respondent that M/s. Anil Buildcon (I) Pvt. Ltd. was disqualified for not possessing concrete paver as such L-2 tenderer M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. also ought to have been disqualified for deficiency of Hot Mix Plant, we are unable to accept the submission as concrete paver was mentioned in the list of mandatory plant and equipment for pre-qualification stage so as to open financial bid. Thus, this submission is found to be baseless. M/s Anil Buildcon (I) Pvt. Ltd. was rightly disqualified.38. We also find that M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. itself was disqualified and it had not questioned the qualification of the successful bidder but that of L-2 bidder - M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. on ground that it was not qualified and its financial bid had been illegally opened. It was purely a fight between the rival tenderers involving no element of public interest. It was the respondent who was trying to cater to its business interest to ensure retendering by seeking disqualification of L-2 tenderer M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. to whom contract had not been given. The Court has to be loath in such matter to make interference.

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 1

Explanation:
1[ds]24. It is apparent from the pre-qualification criteria that for acquiring eligibility the intended tenderer has to meet the financial criteria as specified in Clause 2.1, technical criteria as per Clause 2.2(A) and the construction experience in key activities as provided in Clause 2.2 of doing a contract of requisite nature. Clause 2.2(B) required similar construction work should have been completed satisfactorily within five years, costing not less than INR 32.52 crores or two similar works of INR 22.20 crores each and Clause 2.2(C) provided with respect to the construction experience in key activities requirement for the above or other contracts executed during the period stipulated in clause 2.1 above, a minimum construction experience in the key activities as provided in form Schedule D Section I(v) relating to construction experience.Considering the aforesaid various clauses, we are of the considered opinion that both the bidders L-1 and L-2 i.e. M/s. Raipur Construction Pvt. Ltd. and M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. were technically qualified for opening of their financial bids. The opinion expressed by the High Court that L-2 was made to be qualified in spite of the fact that it was not having Hot Mix Plant, thus, cannot be accepted as available ground to disqualify L-2 tenderer. The relevant clauses of the tender document were not placed for consideration before the High Court as mentioned by the High Court and at last moment the Hot Mix Plant inclusion in Schedule D Section V was indicated to it by the disqualified contractor. In our opinion, Hot Mix Plant was not a mandatory requirement so as to open the financial bid. Thus, the financial bids of the two tenderers who succeeded at the pre-qualification stage had been rightly opened and considered. In our opinion, M/s. Raipur Construction was not favoured by qualifying the disqualified tenderer - M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt Ltd to give the contract to it in surreptitious method and manner as observed by the High Court. M/s. Arcons Infrastructure was, in fact, rightly qualified.32. This Court in Tejas Constructions and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. Municipal Council, Sendhwa and Anr. (2012) 6 SCC 464     has laid down that when the work is 60 per cent complete, Court should be slow to interfere as retendering would delay the project. In the absence of malafide or arbitrariness which is not made out in the instant case as 50 per cent of the work had been completed when the order was passed by the High Court, hence, no interference was warranted in the present case.33. Now, we advert to the question of manipulation in the technical evaluation sheet which has been placed on record by the CSIDC in the form of document R-4/3 and 5/3 and by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. as Annexure P-4 in the High Court.34. The Cyber Crime Cell has observed that some modification was made on 4th July, 2016, in the technical evaluation bid document P-4, a copy of which was filed by the respondent i.e. M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited in the month of April. It was also not reported what change was made in P-4. There was no such manipulation reported in the document of technical evaluation filed by the CSIDC in the High Court. We have seen the stand of CSIDC in its reply to the Writ Application preferred by M/s B.B. Verma which was dismissed by the High Court after looking into same technical evaluation report. The similar stand had been taken by the CSIDC and the very same document of technical evaluation had been placed on record in the aforesaid case as is apparent from the pleadings to which our attention has been drawn by the learned Attorney General. The document relied upon by the CSIDC had been placed on record of said case within a week of finalisation of the financial bid. Immediate filing of the same and taking the stand to the similar effect as has been taken in this matter also vouch for the correctness of document which has been filed by the CSIDC and there is no manipulation in it. As per report of the cyber crime cell also there is no manipulation in the document which has been relied upon by the CSIDC. The question of manipulation as to Hot Mix Plant is of no consequence as it was not a mandatory criteria for opening of financial bid. The ownership or otherwise of the hot mix plant was not at all necessary and the plant was not required as mandatory one for the purpose of pre-qualification stage for opening of financial bid. It was only in the list of approved plant and equipments to be used under the certification of the Engineer-in-charge. It appears that the document P-4 which had been filed by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. contained the evaluation sheet but it was not as per requirement of aforesaid various clauses necessary for pre-qualification stage and non-submission of the information as contended by M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. could not have disqualified M/s. Arcons Infrastructure and Constructions Pvt. Ltd. Thus, what was the necessary requirement as per criteria for opening of the financial evaluation had been rightly placed before the Technical Evaluation Committee on 3.3.2016. We have perused the original Minutes and the technical evaluation document filed by CSIDC which were placed before Technical Evaluation Committee, and was signed by the Executive Engineer and had been considered by the Technical Evaluation Committee. The minutes of the Technical Evaluation Committee had also been signed by the aforesaid three officers. Apart from that in the minutes of Technical Evaluation Committee meeting dated 3.3.2016, details of qualifications have been mentioned and that accords with the document of evaluation sheet which has been relied upon by the CSIDC.35. In our opinion, as the hot mix plant was not a mandatory requirement so as to open the financial bid, we decline to go into the submission raised on behalf of the appellants that M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited has not disclosed how and when and from whom and by which process it obtained the document P-4 which is not signed by anybody as the fact remains that the document which is filed by the respondent also existed in the computer of the CSIDC. However, it looms in insignificance owing to the conclusions to which we have reached with respect to the Hot Mix Plant. May be that this document P-4 was also prepared by somebody in the CSIDC but it was not initialed or signed by anybody. It depicted the position of entire tender of L-2 but what was mandatory requirement for pre-qualification stage and technical evaluation was correctly placed before the Technical Evaluation Committee in the form of document R-4/3 and R-5/3. In view of the aforesaid, we are of the opinion that the report of the Cyber Crime Cell is of no consequence with respect to pre-qualification criteria and opening of financial bids, since it is not disputed that successful tenderer L-1 fulfilled all conditions and had Hot Mix Plant also.36. There was no manipulation in the mandatory requirements and may be that P-4 was prepared but that was of no consequence as deficiency of Hot Mix Plant, even if placed before Committee, would not have tilted the balance in favour of the respondent M/s. Amar Infrastructure Limited. The Committee on that basis could not have disqualified the L-2 tenderer.37. Coming to the submission raised by the learned counsel for the respondent that M/s. Anil Buildcon (I) Pvt. Ltd. was disqualified for not possessing concrete paver as such L-2 tenderer M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. also ought to have been disqualified for deficiency of Hot Mix Plant, we are unable to accept the submission as concrete paver was mentioned in the list of mandatory plant and equipment for pre-qualification stage so as to open financial bid. Thus, this submission is found to be baseless. M/s Anil Buildcon (I) Pvt. Ltd. was rightly disqualified.38. We also find that M/s. Amar Infrastructure Ltd. itself was disqualified and it had not questioned the qualification of the successful bidder but that of L-2 bidder - M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. on ground that it was not qualified and its financial bid had been illegally opened. It was purely a fight between the rival tenderers involving no element of public interest. It was the respondent who was trying to cater to its business interest to ensure retendering by seeking disqualification of L-2 tenderer M/s. Arcons Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. to whom contract had not been given. The Court has to be loath in such matter to make interference.