Aavin restrained from finalising tender on tankers

Justice M Dhandapani, before whom a plea alleging gross irregularities in the issue of tender came up for hearing, granted the interim stay.

The petitioner, SN Rajkumar of RKR transport, running Aavin contracts in Villupuram, Tiruchy and Erode districts, said the federation had called for a tender for the supply of 312 milk tankers for hire. However, even before the submission of bids, the federation changed the period of the tender from two years to three years and consequently increased the value of the tender from Rs 240 crore to Rs 360 crore.

The plea also noted that despite another transport firm obtaining an interim stay from finalising the tender on a plea seeking to quash the tender itself, the federation is proceeding with the tender process, which is contrary to the byelaws of the federation and without the approval of the Board, which is a mandatory pre-curser for floating the tender.