Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh High Court has imposed an interim stay on finalisation of a tender worth around Rs 350 crore for supply of uniforms to government school students across the state.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal directed the state government, Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation and other parties concerned to submit their responses within a week.
The Jabalpur bench passed the interim order while hearing three petitions challenging the tender process for alleged violation of Madhya Pradesh Stores Purchase Rules 2023.
Minority Backward Class Powerloom Weavers Association, Jabalpur, Paradise Weavers Association, Burhanpur, and Kohinoor Weavers Association, Jabalpur, have filed the petitions.
The petitioners claimed that the state-level Powerloom Cooperative Society has acted as the nodal agency for supply of school uniforms since 1993. They contended that the rules allow procurement of materials such as school uniforms from state enterprises without an open tender.
However, Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation issued an open tender worth around Rs 350 crore on June 3, 2026.
The petitioners claimed the tender could affect livelihoods of around 2 lakh weaver families associated with powerloom and spinning mill industries. They also said many weavers had taken bank loans and could face financial difficulties without work.
Advocates Shreyas Dharmadhikari and Tirthesh Bharil appeared for the petitioners.
