Videograph bids for civic work to curb corruption, Madras HC tells govt – Times of India

Chennai News

CHENNAI: Consider videographing the entire tender process floated by local bodies and municipalities to ensure transparency and to avoid disputes in future, the Madras high court has told Tamil Nadu government.
“In order to avoid serious allegations of corruption, bias, malafide and irregularities in the conducting of tender process and to set right the anomalies among the municipalities/ panchayats /local bodies in inviting tenders and awarding contracts, such measures might be considered by the state and appropriate guidelines framed,” Justice D Krishnakumar said.
The judge passed the order while hearing a plea moved by K Annaporani, alleging irregularities in awarding a tender for sewage and drainage cleaning work in Pammal municipality. When the plea came up for hearing, the court said: “It is to be pointed out at this juncture that several litigations have been filed challenging the tender process conducted by tender inviting authorities.”
There are allegations of corruption, malpractices, nexus between the officials and the contractors, bias in awarding of contracts. Unless the irregularities are rectified, the object of Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act and the Rules would be defeated, the court said. The judge added that strict compliance of the procedures contemplated under the Act is required and deviations should be strictly viewed by the government.
Concurring with the court, counsels for the parties submitted that there is no transparency followed in the tender process and in some of the cases, bidders were not allowed to participate in the tender process. “Therefore, the entire process should be videographed or put under CCTV coverage to avoid disputes in the future. Similarly, whenever bidders approach tahsildar or other departments for documents/certificates, especially for issuance of solvency certificate or experience certificate, they are not furnishing the same within time depriving them the right to participate in the tender,” they said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/videograph-bids-for-civic-work-to-curb-corruption-madras-hc-tells-govt/articleshow/84879890.cms