SANTHI CATERERS vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~43 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 11264/2025 & CM APPL.46308-09/2025 SANTHI CATERERS ....Petitioner Through: Mr. Chandan Kumar, Mr. Dinesh Kr. Tiwari, Mr. Shubham, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS .....Respondents Through: Date of Decision: 31.07.2025 CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA JUDGEMENT TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J: (ORAL) 1. Present writ petition has been filed seeking quashing of Letter of Award dated 17.07.2023 issued by respondent no.3 in favor of respondent no.4 to run retiring rooms and dormitories at Vizinagram Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh; and further, a direction to respondent department to issue a Letter of Award in favour of the petitioner. 2. In December, 2022, the respondent no.2 had floated the E-Tender No.2023/IRCTC/CO/RR-01 for renovation, operation, maintenance & transfer back of retiring room & dormitories at Vizinagram Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh, in which the petitioner had participated and submitted its bid on 15.02.2023. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that as per the terms of the subject tender, the bidder quoting the highest annual license fee shall be Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 11264/2025 Page 1 of 3 By:MADHU SARDANA Signing Date:01.08.2025 15:20:03 declared as selected bidder. He states that the petitioner had offered a bid of Rs.9,05,005/-, whereas the offering price of respondent no.4 i.e. M/s Good Food Catering Services was Rs.1,87,331/-, however, the respondent department, in deviation from its own terms, has declared the respondent no.4 as H1, who had quoted a lower license fee than the petitioner, and has also issued a Letter of Award in favor of respondent no.4 on 17.07.2023. 4. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner h