Dehradun: The E-auction of minor mineral lots of Meravrana, Ukroli and Guldiya of District Udham Singh Nagar was held on March 2018. After a complaint that the bidders had colluded among themselves and tried to stop the auction at a particular price, Director Mining, Vinay Shanker Pndey after departmental inquiry had cancelled the e-auction of the said lots and lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with cyber crime police station, Dehradun. The department has restarted the process of e-auction of the said lots.
The bidders had knocked at the doors of the Nainital High court against the orders of the Director, Mining. A total of 14 cases related to the auction were filed against the state government in the honorable high court. On August 6, 2018, the honorable high court, ordered to complete the inquiry by the cyber crime cell of police within one month and to continue the process of e-auction of the said lots.
In pursuance of the orders of the honorable high court, the department fixed the date of e-auction of the said lots for August 16 and 17, 2018. During the course of events, some of the bidders again filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the orders of the honorable High court in the honorable Nainital High Court. The honorable High court on August 14, 2018 after hearing the SLP again passed orders to conti9nue the process of e-auction of the said lots.
Vinay Shanker Pandey, Director, Mining in a meeting held with departmental officials instructed the officials to be extra vigilant during the e-auction to be held of the concerned lot of August 16 and 17, 2018. Vinay Shanker Pandey informed that since a case is pending in the cyber crime cell and investigation has been going on, it is expected from the bidders that will participate in the e-auction with impartiality, in a transparent and competitive manner.
