Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 20-07-2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Union of India & Anr (Petitioner) vs E TRAV TECH LIMITED & Anr (Respondent).
  • Special Leave Petitions No. 24271‑24277/2026 filed against High Court of Delhi judgments dated 15‑07‑2026 in W.P.(C) Nos. 6844, 6846, 6848, 6849, 8039, 8045, 8046.
  • Bench: Hon’ble Chief Justice, Hon’ble Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Hon’ble Justice V. Mohana.
  • Counsel for petitioner included Solicitor General Mr. Tushar Mehta, ASG Mr. K M Nataraj, AOR Mr. Sudarshan Lamba, and senior advocates such as Mr. Rajan Kumar Choursia, Ms. Nasadiya Singh, among others.
  • Counsel for respondent included Ms. Meenakshi Arora, Sr. Adv., Mr. Arjun Raghavendra M, Adv., Mr. Dhaval Deshpande, Adv., and a team of senior advocates.

Observations & Reasoning

1. The Court held that no interference with the impugned High Court judgment is called for; consequently, the SLPs are dismissed.

2. Paragraph 101 of the impugned judgment is modified to the limited extent that the Union of India (Ministry of External Affairs) shall be at liberty to:

  • (i) allow existing incumbents to provide the subject services across all four missions until a fresh RFP is issued, at their own risk and without claiming any equity; or
  • (ii) temporarily allocate the work in any or all of the four missions to the successful bidders whose allotment was set aside by the High Court, as a temporary arrangement at the Ministry’s risk and subject to the outcome of the fresh allocation exercise; or
  • (iii) evolve any other mechanism deemed appropriate to provide services in the four missions until the fresh allocation of work is concluded.

3. The Court directed the Ministry of External Affairs to comply with the High Court directions as early as possible, but not later than three months from the order date.

4. Any pending applications, if any, shall stand closed.

Final Outcome

  • All Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) 24271‑24277/2026 are dismissed.
  • Paragraph 101 is modified as outlined, granting the Ministry of External Affairs flexibility in service provision pending fresh procurement.
  • The Ministry must implement the High Court’s directions within three months, and all pending applications are closed.

Topics: Legal; Government Procurement