Delhi High Court quashed BQS Contract

The Hon'ble High Court of Delhi vide it's recent judgment dated 02 April, 2013 in W.P.(C.) No.3973/2012 has quashed the decision of Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and Govt of Delhi to award the contract for 419 bus shelters (for operations maintenance & marketing of the advertisement spaces on these bus shelters), on nomination basis by invoking Rule 184 of the GFR. The court has directed JC Decaux "to surrender all the 319 BQS and the 100 BQS sites” to Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, "within six weeks” from the date the order. The court has also directed that these bus shelters shall be maintained by Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and in case it decides to award a fresh contract, the same shall be done through a transparent mechanism open to all eligible bidders who meet the clearly laid down criteria and specification which have relevance to the objective sought to be achieved. The court clearly enunciated in the order that "the award of contract in question to respondent no.3 by nomination is arbitrary, discriminatory and illegal. The same is in breach of all tenets of fair play and transparency”. The Court also mentioned that they have taken note of "serious procedural improprieties” in the matter.