Visa, passport services in US: HC issues notice to Centre
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre's response on a plea of a visa and passport service provider challenging a contract awarded to another firm to provide visa services in the Indian
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre's response on a plea of a visa and passport service provider challenging a contract awarded to another firm to provide visa services in the Indian Embassy and all consulates in the US.
A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul issued notice to Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy in the US and Cox and Kings Global Services and sought their reply while fixing the matter for next hearing on July 10.
In its petition, BLS International Services Ltd challenged the contract awarded to Cox and Kings to provide visa services in the Indian Embassy and all consulates in the US.
It also sought to call the records of External Affairs Ministry in relation to the termination of its contract.
"Issue direction thereby setting aside the said impugned letter dated March 19 issued by Indian Embassy and direct the respondent no 1 and 2 (External Affairs Ministry and Indian Embassy) not to accord the contract and enter into a written agreement/contract with Cox & Kings and to consider the financial bid of the petitioner and award the contract to the petitioner as its bid is lowest," the petition said.
A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul issued notice to Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy in the US and Cox and Kings Global Services and sought their reply while fixing the matter for next hearing on July 10.
In its petition, BLS International Services Ltd challenged the contract awarded to Cox and Kings to provide visa services in the Indian Embassy and all consulates in the US.
It also sought to call the records of External Affairs Ministry in relation to the termination of its contract.
"Issue direction thereby setting aside the said impugned letter dated March 19 issued by Indian Embassy and direct the respondent no 1 and 2 (External Affairs Ministry and Indian Embassy) not to accord the contract and enter into a written agreement/contract with Cox & Kings and to consider the financial bid of the petitioner and award the contract to the petitioner as its bid is lowest," the petition said.