A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and
Justice C K Thakkar fixed June 1 to hear the matter for disposal.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a petition filed by Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Airport Developers challenging the Delhi High Court verdict that upheld the government's decision to allot Delhi and Mumbai airport modernisation work to rival bidders GMR and GVK-led consortia.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and
Justice C K Thakkar fixed June 1 to hear the matter for disposal.
The bench issued notices to the Centre, GMR and the
GVK directing them to file a reply within two weeks, after which the petitioner Reliance will file a rejoinder.
The court said issues, including the lowering of standards, as well as giving choice in the opening of financial bid for airport modernisation, needed to be examined in detail.
The Reliance had filed a Special Leave Petition against the April 21 verdict, which held that the government's action was in no way "discriminatory, illogical or illegal".
The high court, on the request of the Reliance counsel, had said the consortia would not claim any equity or implement the contract during the next two weeks so as to enable it to file an appeal in the apex court.
While upholding the technical parameters adopted in awarding the contracts, the high court had said the government and the AAI had "absolute discretion to vary the tender requirements or amend the term of request for proposal" as per the requirements of the project.
Reliance has challenged the awarding of Delhi and Mumbai airport modernisation contracts to GMR and GVK led consortia, as the government and the AAI had deliberately amended tender norms to favour the rival bidders.
The company contended that as the highest financial bidder for Delhi airport and as the highest technical bidder for the Mumbai airport, it should have been awarded at least one of the projects.
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