Allowed

M/s.Gem and Jewellary Technical Training Institute, v. The Additional Registrar / Managing Director

Madras HC10 Mar 2023WP/7231/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The petitioner challenged a tender clause mandating membership in a registered goldsmith association, alleging community-based restrictions. Upon petitioner's affidavit alleging caste-based exclusion and a potential claim of caste discrimination, respondents withdrew the clause mid-proceedings, and the court disposed of the writ petition allowing it without costs, deeming further interim steps unn

What did the court decide?

Allowed the writ petition and closed connected miscellaneous petitions. No costs awarded. No order for retraw or fresh call for tender made.

M/s.Gem and Jewellary Technical Training… — Contract and Commercial Disputes | Madras HC (2023)

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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Dated: 10.03.2023

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023 and

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WMP.Nos.7277, 7278 & 7279 of 2023

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M/s.Gem and Jewellery Technical Training Institute, Represented by its Director M.E.Manian No.17/57-A, Lalkhan Street, 1st floor, Sri Ranjani Hotel, Chidambaram.

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... Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The Additional Registrar/Managing Director Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, N.V.Natarajan Maligai No.170, Periyar EVR Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-10.

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2.G.K.Madhavan

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Managing Directorate Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, N.V.Natarajan Maligai No.170, Periyar EVR Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-10.

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3.The Tender Committee

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Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, Represented by the Deputy Registrar/Director (General Administration), Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, Chennai-10.

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.... Respondents

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Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the respondent in its Tender Notice. No.1/0001/2023/D2 dated 03.02.2023 and quash the clause (e) which reads as under:-

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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"(e) The tenderer should submit the membership certificate obtained from the registered goldsmith association."

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and consequently direct the respondents to scrutinize and evaluate the bids

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submitted by the petitioner without insisting on clause (e) above.

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For Petitioner : Mr.V.Vijay Shankar For Respondents : Mr.Bala Ramesh (for R1 & R3) Standing Counsel

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O R D E R

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The challenge in this writ petition by the Gem and Jewellery

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Technical Training Institute is to a tender notice dated 03.02.2023 specifically targeting Clause-(e) thereof which requires the tenderer to submit a membership certificate obtained from a registered Goldsmith Association as a mandatory condition for eligibility. When the matter had

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come up for admission on 07.03.2023, the following order was passed:

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'Mr.Bala Ramesh, learned Standing Counsel accepts notice for R1 and R3 and seeks some time to obtain instructions and file a counter.

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2.Notice through Court as well as privately to R2,

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returnable 10.03.2023. Proof of service be placed on file.

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3.The tender announcement has been made on 03.02.2023 and this writ petition has been instituted only on 06.03.2023 one month thereafter.

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4.That apart, the challenge is to a tender condition which states that the tenderer should compulsorily possess a membership in a registered Goldsmith Association. Normally, neither of the aforesaid premises would have impugned, this Court necessitating intervention, unless the condition is shown to be perverse.

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5.Though the entity floating the tender has full discretion to impose a condition, the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, at paragraph 13, reveals the stand of the petitioner that it was debarred from obtaining a membership

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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of the Goldsmith Association as it such membership was open only to members of a particular community (Porkollar).

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6.The petitioner before me is the Gem and Jewellery

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Technical Training Institute. The stand of the respondents is that the faculty members entrusted with the actual conduct of the course are expected to hold a membership of a registered Goldsmith Association. He would also deny vehemently the allegation at paragraph 13 as noticed above.

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7.It is the respondents' case that there are several

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registered Goldsmith Associations and that there is no restriction placed by any of the associations based on caste or community of the member.

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8.An affidavit will be filed to this effect setting out

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comprehensive details of the registered associations and terms and conditions for membership therein.

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9.List on 10.03.2023 at the end of admission list.

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10.The tender shall not be finalised till the next date of

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hearing, though processes, till then may continue.'

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2.Today Mr.Bala Ramesh, learned counsel for the respondents

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circulates a communication in Na.Ka.No.50 of 2023 dated 09.03.2023 to

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the effect that this condition has been withdrawn and will not be enforced

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in the present tender process. A resolution has been passed on 07.03.2023

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to this effect, reading thus:

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bghUs;	jPh;khdk;
jkpH;ehL Tl;Lwt[ xd;wpaj;jpd; fl;Lg;ghl;oYs;s Tl;Lwt[ nkyhz;ik epiya';fspy; elj;jg;gLk; ;[ ; ;;	;[ ;;;; ; ;;; ;[ ; ;; jkpH;ehL Tl;Lwt[ xd;wpaj;jpd; fl;Lg;ghl;oYs;s Tl;Lwt[ nkyhz;ik epiya';fspy; elj;jg;gLk; ;[ ; ;;
Tl;Lwt[ nkyhz;ik gl;lag; gapw;rpapd; eif kjpg;gPL mjd; El;g';fSk; gapw;rp bjhlu;ghd kzpj;Jsp mog;gilapy; gapw;rp mspf;f jkpH;ehL KGtJk; m';fPfhuk; bgw;w bjhHpy; El;g epWtd';fsplkpUe;J xg;ge;jg;g[s;spfs; mDg;gf; nfhup	;[ ; ;; ;P ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ;P; ; ;; Tl;Lwt[ nkyhz;ik gl;lag; gapw;rpapd; eif kjpg;gPL mjd; El;g';fSk; gapw;rp bjhlu;ghd kzpj;Jsp mog;gilapy; gapw;rp mspf;f jkpH;ehL KGtJk; m';fPfhuk; bgw;w bjhHpy; El;g epWtd';fsplkpUe;J xg;ge;jg;g[s;spfs; mDg;gf;

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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bghUs;	jPh;khdk;
jpdj;je;jp (k)Indian Express (04/02/2023) ehspjH;fspy; tpsk;guk; btspaplg;gl;lJ/ nkw;go xg;ge;j g[s;sp nfhupajpy; xg;ge;j epWtd';fs; rku;g;gpf;f ntz;oa Mtz	;; [; ; ;; ;; ;;; ; nfhup jpdj;je;jp (k)Indian Express (04/02/2023) ehspjH;fspy; tpsk;guk; btspaplg;gl;lJ/ nkw;go xg;ge;j g[s;sp nfhupajpy; xg;ge;j
rhd;Wfspy; tupir d.y;	; ; ;; epWtd';fs; rku;g;gpf;f
Fwpg;gpl;Ls;sthe tenderer who are gold smith and who have vast experience in this field will be given performance kw;Wk;	;; ntz;oa Mtz rhd;Wfspy; tupird.y; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;sthe tenderer who are gold smith and who have vast experience in
tupire.y; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;sThe	this field will be given
; ;;; tenderer should submit the	performance kw;Wk; tupir
membership Certificate obtained from the registered goldsmith associationvd;w epge;jidfs; mtrpakpy;iy vd;gjhy; ,jid	; ;; ; ;; e.y; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;sThe tenderer should submit the membership Certificate obtained from the registered goldsmith association
; ;; xg;ge;j g[s;spapy; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;s ;; ;	; ;; ;; [;; ;;; ; vd;w epge;jidfs; ;
epge;jidapy; ,Ue;J	; mtrpakpy;iy vd;gjhy;
; ePf;fptplyhk; vdt[k;/ ,J ; P;	; P; ,jid xg;ge;j g[s;spapy; ;;; ;;
bjhlu;ghf ePjpkd;w	P; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;s epge;jidapy;
tHf;FfSf;F Mtz';fis ePjpkd;wj;jpy; rku;g;gpg;gjw;F ;;	; ;;;; ;; ,Ue;J ePf;fptplyhk; vdt[k;/ ,J bjhlu;ghf ePjpkd;w
TLjy; gjpthsu;-nkyhz;ik	;; tHf;FfSf;F Mtz';fis
,af;FeUf;F KG mjpfhuk; tH';FtJ vdt[k; blz;lu; ; P;;	;; ; ; [; ;; ; P;; ;; ; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; rku;g;gpg;gjw;F TLjy; gjpthsu;-nkyhz;ik ;; ;
FGthy; Vfkdjhf jPh;khdpg;gJ bjhlu;ghf nkYk;. eif kjpg;gPLk; mjd; ;;; ; ;	; P;; ; ;P; ; ;;; ; ; ,af;FeUf;F KG mjpfhuk; tH';FtJ vdt[k; blz;lu; FGthy; Vfkdjhf P;;;;
El;g';fSk; bjhlu;ghd gapw;rp	;;; ; ; jPh;khdpf;fg;gl;lJ/
;;; ; ; elj;Jtjpy; Kd; mDgtk;	;;; ; ; ;; ; ; P;;;; nkYk;. eif kjpg;gPLk;
;; ; ; mtrpak; ,Uf;f ntz;Lk; vdt[k; mjw;Fhpa rhd;Wfis rku;g;gpf;f ntz;Lk; vdt[k; Kot[ bra;tJ bjhlu;ghf/	;; ; ; ;; [; ; ; ;;; ;; [; ; ;P; mjd; El;g';fSk; bjhlu;ghd gapw;rp elj;Jtjpy; Kd; mDgtk; mtrpak; ,Uf;f ntz;Lk; vdt[k; mjw;Fhpa rhd;Wfis rku;g;gpf;f ntz;Lk; vd blz;lu; FGthy; VfkdjhfKot[ bra;ag;gl;lJ/

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3.This would satisfy the petitioner. As is self-evident, the respondent

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has taken a considered view in regard to the issue now raised by the petitioner, and thus the decision, as resolved above, will apply in all tenders

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P.No.7231 of 2023

to follow.

4.A tentative submission is made by Mr.Vijay Shankar, who states that since the tender conditions have been changed midway, it would be appropriate that a fresh call is made for tender. This is unnecessary as this writ petition is not a public interest litigation. As the condition in question has been challenged only by the present petitioner, and with the remedial action now taken, I see no reason to delay the tender process any further.

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5.This writ petition is allowed. No costs. Connected miscellaneous

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petitions are closed.

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10.03.2023

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vs Index:Yes/No Speaking order Neutral Citation : Yes

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1.The Additional Registrar/Managing Director Tamilnadu Cooperative Union N.V.Natarajan Maligai No.170, Periyar EVR Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-10.

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2.G.K.Madhavan

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Managing Directorate Tamilnadu Cooperative Union N.V.Natarajan Maligai No.170, Periyar EVR Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-10.

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3.The Tender Committee

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, Represented by the Deputy Registrar/Director (General Administration), Tamilnadu Cooperative Union, Chennai-10.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023

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Dr.ANITA SUMANTH,J.

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W.P.No.7231 of 2023 and WMP.Nos.7277, 7278 & 7279 of 2023

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10.03.2023

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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M/s.Gem and Jewellary Technical Training Institute, v. The Additional Registrar / Managing Director

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M/s.Gem and Jewellary Technical Training Institute, v. The Additional Registrar / Managing Director

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Parties & counsel

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