In Brief
B.K. Enterprises challenged the State of Manipur's continued operation of food grain transport contracts on an interim basis under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) without inviting fresh tenders since 2017–18. The High Court had directed the State to issue fresh tenders within 10 days and complete the process within 20 days, but the State failed to comply. The Supreme Court held that contracts cannot indefinitely continue on interim basis without fresh tenders, as this causes huge loss to the public exchequer. The Court directed the State to issue a fresh, nationwide e-Tender within 10 days with fair and transparent procedures, to be completed within six weeks, while maintaining temporary arrangements until 31 December 2021."
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