HYDERABAD, Sept 12: The respondent’s counsel sought adjournment of hearing in a case, challenging auction of a cattle market by Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) Tando Mohammad Khan which, according to the applicant, had been auctioned to lower bidder despite the highest bid, here on Thursday.

The applicant, Abdul Mir Mohammad, had sent his application through post office to Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench and Mr.Justice Abdur Rehman Faruq Pirzada had issued notices to respondents on previous date of hearing. The applicant alleged that cattle piri of Tando Saindad district Tando Mohammad Khan was auctioned by Taluka Nazim of Tando Mohammad Khan through close door instead of open auction whereby he has granted the contract to lowest bidder instead of highest bidder.

The applicant said that he being interested party and others also participated in the tender notice of cattle piri of Tando Saindad. He said that the taluka nazim sanctioned the contract to a man of his choice on a very low rate of Rs4 million despite another bid of Rs15 million only on the basis of kick back.

He said that open public auction of cattle piri of Tando Saindad the highest bid was about Rs15 million to Rs20 million.

The applicant claimed that total monthly income of cattle piri is approximately Rs32 million to Rs40 million which takes its annual income to Rs384 to Rs480 million.

He alleged that for the last three to four years the contract of cattle piri of Tando Saindad is given to same family in different names for getting commission. He said that it causes losses to the government’s exchequer. He prayed the court to look into the matter and cancel the contract after inquiries. He said that after inviting fresh applications the contract should be given to highest bidder having an offer of not less than Rs15 million.

The counsel for taluka nazim filed his power and sought adjournment of the case till October 9.

POSTED: Chief Justice Sindh High Court has posted Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed Memon as assistant registrar at Hyderabad circuit bench of Sindh High Court. He was earlier transferred to Sukkur bench.