PANAJI
The High Court at Goa has stayed further proceedings in the online auction of the Cavorem-Maina Mineral Block No XVIII till the next hearing after a bidder alleged that technical glitches prevented it from participating fully in the bidding process.
A mining company approached the Court claiming that while the auction allowed an eight-minute window to place and revise bids, technical issues cropped up after the first two minutes, preventing it from submitting further bids and potentially affecting the final outcome.
Hearing the plea, the Court observed that mining rights are valuable State resources and noted that if the allegations were found to be true, the State exchequer could suffer losses due to the absence of a potentially higher bid.
Finding prima facie merit in the petitioner’s grievance, the Court directed the government to maintain status quo and restrained authorities from taking any further steps in the auction process. The petitioner was also permitted to implead the highest bidder as a party to the case.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on June 9.
