HC scraps appeal against order on Nainital parking contracts

Nainital: The Uttarakhand high court on Monday disposed of a special appeal against its order (dated April 18) on Nainital parking contracts. After hearing the matter, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Justice RC Khulbe upheld the order of the single bench, which was challenged by contractors Nardev (who goes by his first name) and Umesh Mishra.
Earlier, the bench of Justice Sarad Kumar Sharma had stayed the Nainital municipal body's order (dated March 25, 2022) concerning the contracts awarded for developing parking spots in different areas -- Lake Bridge, Barapathar, Anda Market and near BD Pandey Hospital -- of the lake town. The decision came as the HC was hearing a PIL alleging that three old contractors associated with the municipal body were given contracts without a proper tender process. The HC also asked the three contractors -- Nardev, Sachin Kumar and Umesh Mishra -- to submit their response in the case within three weeks.
The PIL -- filed by Ajay Kumar, a resident of Amroha (Uttar Pradesh) -- said that other contractors couldn't even participate in the process as the contracts were awarded without inviting tender bids. This led to a loss of government revenue , the PIL added. Sonali Mishra