PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PRIVATE LIMITED vs UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE & ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment pronounced on: 24.02.2025 + W.P.(C) 10154/2024 & CMAPPLs.41726/2024, 41727/2024, 63396/2024 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PRIVATE LIMITED.....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sanjay Jain (Sr. Advocate) along with Mr. Piyush Joshi, Ms. Sumiti Yadava, Ms. Meghna Sengupta, Ms. Harshita Sukheja, Mr. A. D. Rama Ratna Sarma, Ms. Palak Jain, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA THROUGH THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Bhagvan Swarup Shukla, CGSC along with Mr. Sarvan Kumar, Advocate for UOI. Mr. R. Venkat Prabhat, SPC along with Mr. Daksh Pandit, Ms. Kamna Behrani and Mr. Ansh Kalra, Advocates. Ms. Shweta Bharti, Ms. Sonali Kumar, Ms. Sukriti Verma, Ms. Vanshika Gupta, Advocates for R-2. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA JUDGMENT FACTUAL MATRIX Signature Not Verified W.P.(C) 10154/2024 Page 1 of 16 Digitally Signed By:ABHISHEK THAKUR Signing Date:27.02.2025 06:54:46 1. The present petition filed by the petitioner seeks to assail an Office Memorandum dated 16.07.2024 (hereinafter ‘impugned OM’) which inter alia disqualified the petitioner for a period of 5 years from participating in any Request for Proposals (RFA) issued by the Integrated Nutrient Management Division (Organic Farm Divisions) (hereinafter referred as ‘INMD’), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (respondent no.1) and a communication/email dated 22.07.2024, in terms of which, account of the petitioner on the Government e-Market Place (GeM) portal (respondent no.2) was suspended for 30 days i.e., between 22.07.2024 to 21.08.2024. 2. The disputes between the parties have arisen in the context of a Request for Propo