Government Orders Strict Action Against NCERT Officials Over Court Lapse In Two-Year Procurement Blacklisting Case
PTI reported that the Union Education Minister has ordered strict action against the officials. NCERT has been asked to examine how the firm without meeting the requirements was selected for the procurement process.
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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had ordered strict action against NCERT officials after they failed to defend their decision to blacklist a firm for two years from supplying paper for textbooks, sources told news agency PTI. Bafna Global Venture Private Limited appeared before the Delhi High Court on June 24, appealing against the “black listing action” taken by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
NCERT Barred The Firm For Two Years From Procurement
The NCERT issued an order on June 22, barring Bafna Global Venture Private Limited for two years from the procurement process, the end-to-end business cycle of sourcing, negotiating, and acquiring goods or services an organization needs to operate of the council.
No One Appeared Before Court From NCERT
According to news agency PTI, no one from NCERT appeared before the court to defend the “black listing action”. The court allowed immunity to the firm from coercive action till further orders. The Delhi High Court has also subdued NCERT from implementing over Rs 6 crore bank guarantee, furnished by the paper supplier. A bank guarantee is a promise from a financial institution (the guarantor) to cover a financial obligation if a debtor defaults.
"Taking serious note of reports that NCERT failed to effectively defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier before the Delhi High Court, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed strict action against the officers responsible for the lapse," a source said to news agency PTI.
"The minister has ordered accountability for the officials be fixed who failed to take the necessary legal steps, reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach towards administrative and legal lapses while ensuring greater accountability in textbook production and procurement," the source added.
Strict Legal Action Against NCERT Officials
PTI reported that the Union Education Minister has ordered strict action against the officials. NCERT has been asked to examine how the firm without meeting the requirements was selected for the procurement process.
"The ministry has asked NCERT to examine how Bafna Global Venture Private Limited was selected despite allegedly not meeting the required conditions, why it subsequently failed to adhere to the paper-supply schedule and how the council's case went unrepresented in court," the source said to PTI.
Bleaching Agent Was Not Available Due To Iran War, Says Firm In Court
The firm said the hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent used for the purpose of paper manufacturing, was not available due to the war in Iran, leading to delay in printing of the books. Delhi High Court will hear the case on July 20.
Sahil Behl is an education journalist at Jagran with over a year of experience in journalism. Prior to joining Jagran, he worked as a Sub-Editor in NDTV's Education department, where he was responsible for writing and editing education-related content as well as managing the department's social media presence. At Jagran, he covers a wide range of education topics, including board examinations, school updates, admissions, and job notifications, while leveraging his editorial expertise and strong understanding of digital content strategy.
Sahil holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and has also completed an eight-month certification program in Data Science. Passionate about emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, he closely tracks their growing role in journalism and explores how they are transforming shaping the future of the media industry.
