HC stays ban on DJB employees' kin taking part in tenders

New Delhi, June 5: The Delhi High Court has stayed the operation of a provision in the rules for enlistment of contractors in Delhi Jal Board (DJB) that puts a "blanket ban" on participation in tenders by relatives of the employees of the civic body.

Justice Manmohan issued the interim direction on the plea of a man whose father is an assistant engineer in DJB.

The court also sought response of the civic body on the issue raised by the petitioner, a contractor. As per the petition, the provision which imposes the blanket ban was introduced by way of an amendment in March 2015.

Prior to amendment, there was a prohibition on relatives of DJB employees participating in tenders, but it was limited to those "circles/divisions/departments where such near/close relative of a contractor was employed", the petition by Madhav Goel said.

He claimed that this is the practice followed by other government bodies. "Amended clause has introduced a blanket ban and it prohibits all contractors whose close family members are employed in DJB from participating in any tender process by any circle/division thereby, rendering all such contractors ineligible to work," the petition filed through advocate Sudhir Naagar said.

PTI