Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ordered an inquiry and sought action against National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) officials for not appearing before the Delhi High Court on June 24 to defend its June 22 order blacklisting a paper supplier for delaying the production of textbooks, union education ministry officials aware of the developments said on Friday.
The administrative error committed by NCERT has given the company temporary relief to challenge the board’s order. This case is scheduled to be heard on July 20.
A union education ministry spokesperson told HT that Pradhan’s intervention in the matter is part of “reinforcing the ministry’s zero-tolerance approach towards administrative and legal lapses”. However, the spokesperson did not explain why NCERT failed to appear in court or identify the officials responsible for the blunder.
The ministry has asked NCERT to examine multiple aspects of the case, including how Pune-based Bafna Global Venture Private Limited was awarded the printing contract to supply Maplitho paper for the academic year 2026-27 on December 1 despite not fulfilling the tender conditions floated on October 28, why it failed to adhere to the agreed supply schedule by March 1, and why no representative appeared before the Delhi High Court to defend the council’s June 22 decision, officials familiar with the matter said.
Bafna Global Venture Pvt Ltd approached the Delhi High Court on June 24 challenging NCERT’s June 22 order terminating its contract, barring it from participating in NCERT procurement for two years and directing the protest to $A bank guarantee of Rs 6.09 crore was given by the company to secure the contract.
However, when the matter came up before Justice Mini Pushkarna, no one appeared on behalf of NCERT despite prior notice. Taking into consideration the submissions made by the petitioner, the court directed that no coercive action should be taken against the company under the June 22 order till the next hearing on July 20. It also barred NCERT from invoking the order issued on June 22. $Bank guarantee of Rs 6.09 crore in the meantime.
The company said in its petition that the delay in paper production was caused by the unavailability of hydrogen peroxide – a bleaching agent used in paper making – due to unrest related to the US-Iran conflict. She also stressed that a blacklist should not normally follow a contractual dispute where there is a genuine disagreement.
“Taking serious note of reports that NCERT failed to effectively defend its decision to blacklist a paper supplier before the Delhi High Court, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has issued strict action against the officers responsible for the blunder,” said an official aware of the developments.
The official added that the minister ordered accountability for officials who failed to take the necessary legal steps.
Neither NCERT nor Bafna responded to HT’s queries seeking comment.
