Supreme Court to hear L&T plea accusing MMRDA of tender irregularities

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on May 29 a plea filed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in which it has accused Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) of certain irregularities in the tender process for the construction of the ₹6,000 crore Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects..The Bombay High Court had earlier dismissed L&T's petitions, following which the infrastructure company to move the Supreme Court for relief. The matter was briefly taken up briefly on May 26 by a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih when the Court noticed that L&T had earlier been chosen to construct the key areas in the Central Vista development project, including Common Central Secretariat buildings.The Court orally warned that it may stay the Bombay High Court order against L&T if a proper explanation is not given to show that the tender process in this case had been fair. "This is thousands of crores of public money. Please take instructions ..else we will stay this (High Court) order. Question of money arises if it's a public interest matter. The very name of the bidder ... he was the one chosen to construct Central Vista, and here this!" CJI Gavai said. .L&T was among those who submitted technical bids last year for the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects in response to tenders floated by the MMRDA in July that year. The submitted technical bids were opened in January this year. L&T later claimed that MMRDA had gone ahead with the next phase of opening financial bids, without notifying L&T of the status of its technical bid or inviting it to be present for the opening of the financial bids. This was challenged before the Bombay High Court, which dismissed two petitions filed by L&T in the matter. .The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the appeal challenging this High Court verdict on Thursday while underscoring that transparency is key in such matters. "Now, we are in the era of transparency. Anything arbitrary... the person must have an option to challenge it ... List on Thursday," CJI Gavai said..In its appeal, L&T has contended that it was not given any opportunity of hearing to contest its unlawful disqualification from the bid process, apart from not being officially informed about such disqualification in the first place. .Senior Advocate AM Singhvi represented L&T. Its plea before the Supreme Court was filed through Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas..Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the MMRDA..[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.