Blacklisted in 2016, Mumbai firm set to bag Rs 1,566 crore CC road contracts
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has awarded a new contract to RPS InfraProjects, a firm previously blacklisted for poor road works. The company was banned following its involvement in the 2016 road scam but has now been chosen for phase 2 of the Rs 6,000-crore cement concrete (CC) road projects in Mumbai.
RPS InfraProjects was blacklisted for seven years after an FIR was registered against it, and two of its directors were arrested. However, the company stated that the ban was later reduced to three years, and a speaking order issued in October 2019 modified the blacklisting. The joint venture involving RPS InfraProjects was directed to carry out repairs on roads under inquiry, and the blacklisting period lapsed in 2019. Since then, the firm has executed various road projects for BMC.
Despite the company's controversial history, BMC floated phase 2 tenders for CC road works in January. RPS InfraProjects emerged as the lowest bidder, making it eligible for the Rs 1,566-crore projects in the western suburbs.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned the decision to award the contract to a previously blacklisted company. In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Thackeray demanded that the phase 2 tenders be scrapped to avoid potential taint. He also called for a probe against officials who allegedly colluded with the company. Thackeray warned that if the MVA forms the government after the assembly elections, it would scrap the new contracts and halt payments to all contractors.
Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh alleged that the roads under investigation in the 2016 case were counted towards the company's experience when BMC considered its qualifications for the new tenders. RPS InfraProjects denied this claim.
The company also defended its involvement in repairs on the Himalaya foot overbridge (FOB) at CSMT in 2013, which collapsed six years later, causing several fatalities. RPS InfraProjects stated that it conducted small repairs in 2013, with the warranty expiring in 2014, and the collapsed section was not the one they worked on. BMC issued a show-cause notice to RPS Infra in 2019, but after replying, the issue was closed, and RPS Infra was declared not guilty.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
