Case Law Analysis
|Calcutta High Court
Mandamus to Invite MSME to Match Lowest Bid Within 15% Band under MSE Purchase-Preference Policy | Public Procurement on GeM : Calcutta HC
Calcutta HC directed SAIL to re-invite the MSME petitioner, allowing it to match the lowest-bidder’s price because the bid fell within the 15 % band mandated by the 2012 MSE purchase-preference policy. The court held that not ticking the MSME option on GeM does not defeat eligibility, and a mandamus can compel compliance. The ruling safeguards registered MSMEs in public procurement, ensuring they can compete even if the portal preference box is missed.