The Delhi High Court has declined to grant relief to R.K. Jain Infra Projects Private Limited in a dispute over participation in a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) tender. The court held that the company could not be allowed to submit a bid while a debarment order against it remained in force.
Background of the Case
R.K. Jain Infra Projects, which operates toll collection projects across the country, was debarred by NHAI for one year through an order dated August 6, 2025. The company has already challenged that order in a separate writ petition, where judgment has been reserved but is yet to be delivered.
Meanwhile, NHAI issued a fresh tender on June 2, 2026, for engagement of a user fee collection agency at the Ghamroj Fee Plaza in Haryana. The last date for submitting bids was June 16, 2026.
The company argued that its debarment would expire on August 6, 2026, while the contractual period under the new tender would begin only after that date. It therefore sought permission to participate in the bidding process.
Court's Observations
The division bench was not persuaded by the argument that the future commencement of the contract diluted the effect of the debarment order.
The bench observed,
“The date of commencement of the contractual period under the NIT is not material so long as the Debarment Order continues to operate against the Petitioner at the time when bid under NIT is required to be submitted.”
The court noted that the debarment specifically prohibited participation in tenders during the one-year period. Since the bid submission process was taking place before the debarment expired, the restriction continued to apply.
The judges also pointed out that no interim stay had been granted against the debarment order in the earlier pending case. As a result, the debarment remained fully operational.
Decision
Holding that the company could not bypass the continuing effect of the debarment order through a separate petition, the Delhi High Court found no merit in the plea.
The court dismissed the writ petition and the connected applications, ruling that R.K. Jain Infra Projects Private Limited could not participate in the NHAI tender issued on June 2, 2026. No order was passed as to costs.
Case Details:
Case Title: R.K. Jain Infra Projects Private Limited v. National Highway Authority of India
Case Number: W.P.(C) 8151/2026
Judge: Justice Tejas Karia and Justice Madhu Jain
Decision Date: June 15, 2026
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