Chennai: The Madras High court has refused to halt tender process in connection with establishment of catering stalls in railway stations.
Dismissing a plea moved by P. K. Amina, wife of a person, who already runs 11 such stalls in various railways stations, a division bench of Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh and Justice M. Dhandapani has observed that properties of government cannot be allowed to be fettered by perpetuity.
In the petition, P. K. Amina, who was allotted licence by IRCTC for operating a catering stall in platform at Erode railway station, has sought direction to renew the license in the station.
The bench said, “By clinging to the stall eternally, the petitioner will be only depriving the opportunity of others. Having had her fingers in the pie, she would only like to cling to it and have the whole pie for herself. It is in the fitness of things that everybody has a taste of the pie. Therefore, there is no uprooting of the petitioner, but there is only uprooting of avarice of the individuals”.
The decision taken by the railway to lease out the stall through public auction is in larger interest of the public. The competition will bring the best price, which will only ultimately ensure to the benefit of the public.
Further, if the right is leased out by public auction, everyone will have a chance to participate, including the petitioner and there would be more transparency. Such public auction is likely to yield higher income,
Dismissing her plea, the bench said that given the fact that the petitioner's husband already possess licence for 11 such stalls in the same division, the claim of the petitioner seeking further renewal is noting, but an attempt to monopolising the entire business.
