...Bus permits under scheme terminated

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 22

The Haryana Government has terminated all lease agreements for hiring 510 buses after finding collusive bidding for allotment of permits to private players under the kilometre scheme. An FIR for cheating and criminal conspiracy under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered by the Haryana Vigilance Department.

As a bunch of petitions on the issue came up for resumed hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, a formal statement to this effect was made by the state.

In an affidavit placed before the Bench, Haryana Joint State Transport Controller Ram Kumar submitted: “The whole tender process was vitiated as it was marred by collusive bidding, cheating and fraud and the allegations have been substantially proved in an inquiry report. Therefore, taking cognisance of the aforesaid report, the government has decided to terminate and annul all lease agreements of hiring 510 buses.”

The affidavit added that the decision was taken on the basis of an inquiry carried out by the Haryana Vigilance Department. The Bench was further told that the bureau found large-scale collusive bidding and the bidders committed fraud and cheating for getting the tenders released in their favour.

The Haryana Government’s purported decision of hiring buses from private operators under the kilometre scheme had resulted in an 18-day-long strike towards the end of last year. Taking up the matter, the High Court had asked the unions to come out with their objections to the government’s decision.

The union officials, at that time, were told that the decision had not been taken to privatise or minimise the Transport Department. Tenders had been invited for the procurement of 667 buses — 367 ordinary, 150 mini and 150 air-conditioned — to increase the fleet of buses of the Transport Department.