In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court delivered a resounding message: wrongdoers cannot exploit their own misdeeds for personal gain. The case in question involved the Municipal Committee, Katra, and a bidder who had fallen short on contractual obligations.
The dispute stemmed from a tender issued by the Municipal Committee, Katra, inviting bids for transportation services to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. The winning bidder, however, failed to meet the stipulated contract period of 365 days.
Despite participating in the tender process knowingly, the bidder later challenged the validity of the contract terms, causing delays in the issuance of the work order. This delay, which the bidder himself caused, resulted in a shortened contract period.
The Supreme Court, led by Justices B. R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, held firm in their stance. They emphasized that allowing individuals to benefit from their own wrongdoing goes against the very essence of justice. The respondent, having knowingly participated in the bidding process, could not later contest the terms of the contract to his advantage.
Moreover, the Court criticized the High Court’s involvement in quantifying damages, noting that such disputes should be resolved through proper legal channels rather than extraordinary writ jurisdiction.
In a clear and decisive judgment, the Supreme Court overturned previous rulings, asserting the illegality of granting the bidder compensation for their own failings. Justice prevailed as the Court stood against the exploitation of legal loopholes for personal gain.
The case of Municipal Committee, Katra v. Ashwani Kumar serves as a beacon of justice, reaffirming the principle that wrongdoers must not be allowed to profit from their own misdeeds.
