Supreme Court censures West Bengal Minister for tender cancellation

The Supreme Court censured West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim for arbitrarily canceling a tender for the maintenance of Kolkata underpasses. The Court stressed that public authorities must honor contractual obligations and not misuse executive powers. The cancellation, claimed to be due to a technical fault, was deemed capricious and influenced by malice. The Court reinstated the tender, emphasizing the importance of fairness and equal opportunity in public procurement processes. The decision underscores the need for genuine, well-considered reasons for altering or canceling public contracts.