Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today blacklisted an IT firm and its private vendor and barred them from participating in any future recruitment-related bids across the Union Territory.
The action against M/s LMES IT LLP and its vendor Maharaj Krishan Wali stemmed from an investigation into irregularities in the 2020 selection process for Firemen/Firemen Drivers in the Fire & Emergency Services Department.
An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) said the decision followed a detailed report by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K, which registered a formal case after an initial inquiry highlighted massive procurement malpractices.
It said the ACB established that M/s LMES LLP was wrongfully awarded the contract despite the second-lowest (L-2) bidder, quoting Rs 179 per candidate, while the lowest (L-1) bidder had offered a rate Rs 107.50 per candidate.
Furthermore, the ACB had found that the firm was ineligible as it lacked the mandatory experience required by the tender document.
The ACB also disclosed in its report submitted to the General Administration Department that M/s LMES IT LLP’s key shareholder, Maharaj Krishan Wali was a resource person for an earlier firm whose 2018 recruitment process for the same job had been cancelled by the Government.
The order further stated that despite this known conflict, Wali’s new firm was allotted the work, leading to the conclusion that he was facilitated by Fire & Emergency Services Department and given undue leverage.
As such, the Government accorded sanction to the blacklisting of M/s LMES IT LLP and its vendor Maharaj Krishan Wali while barring them from participating in any future recruitment related tenders.
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