Supreme Court backs BEST call to disqualify Tata Motors from electric bus tender

The Supreme Court on on Friday upheld the decision of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) to disqualify Tata Motors from its tender for supply of 1,400 single-deck electric buses worth about ₹2,500 crore.

While dismissing Tata Motors’ plea, a bench of the top court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud also partly set aside the Bombay High Court judgment that had directed BEST to issue a fresh tender for electric buses.

While the high court had upheld Tata Motors’ disqualification, it had also termed BEST’s decision to hold Hyderabad-based EVEY Trans Pvt Ltd’s ‘responsive’ bid as “incorrect”.