Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 18: High court judge Janak Raj Kotwal today said subject to objections and till next date of hearing before the bench, the circular raising the threshold limit of e-tendering from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh be not given effect.
The court directive came in a petition, challenging the legality of circular issued by Director Codes, Finance Department, vide No A/21(2003)-misc-A-531 dated September 19, 2016. By this circular, the finance department has raised the threshold limit of e-tendering of works and procurement contracts in the state from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, indicating thereby that procurements and works up to the value of Rs 10 lakh may not be put to e-tendering.
Justice Kotwal, after hearing the two sides, issued notice to the state and observed that by this circular No 4 ITD of May 20, 2015 issued by the Information Technology Department, whereby this limit was that lowered from from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 lakh stands modified. It is pointed out that Circular No. 4 ITD was issued pursuant to the office memorandum of Department of Commerce, Government of India.
The judge ordered to list the case on November 21, 2016 and said that subject to objections and till next date before the bench, the impugned circular be not given effect to. (JNF) |
