Authority: Court
Order Date: 15 October 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: M/s. Chaitali Enterprises (petitioner) vs Eastern Coalfields Limited & Anr (respondents).
- Petition challenged the cancellation of a tender for comprehensive maintenance work covering project office, dispensary, base workshop, glasshouse area, andrewyul substation, dragline section, magazine house, coal testing lab and DG shed for a two‑year period.
- Original NIT stipulated bid submission deadline 24 July 2026 6:00 p.m.; e‑tender portal displayed 24 July 2026 11:00 a.m. A corrigendum uploaded on 24 July 2026 at 1:34 p.m. corrected the deadline to 25 July 2026 6:00 p.m., providing only a 24‑hour extension.
- Respondents cited Clause 3 of the Guidelines for E‑Procurement of Works and Services, 2023, which requires a minimum ten‑day extension for bid submission; therefore they cancelled the tender.
- Petitioner argued the cancellation was unjustified, noting this was the third cancellation and relying on the Supreme Court judgment Subodh Kumar Singh Rathour Vs. CEO (2024) that cancellations must be justified.
- Respondents contended the extension violated the Guidelines; earlier cancellations were due to a technical defect in the tender document and lack of qualified bidders.
Final Outcome
- The Court found no illegality in the cancellation and dismissed WPA 28553 of 2026.
- No order as to costs; parties may obtain certified copies of the order upon compliance with formalities.
Topics: Tender Procurement, E‑Procurement Guidelines