Supreme Court refuses to intervene in Delhi HC decision on CPV tenders in four Indian missions
The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a Delhi High Court ruling that quashed tenders for consular services at four Indian missions. The court allowed the Ministry of External Affairs to establish temporary service mechanisms while a new tender process is completed within three months.
Why it matters
This ruling ensures the continuity of essential diplomatic and consular services while upholding judicial scrutiny over government procurement transparency.
The Supreme Court on Monday (July 20, 2026) refused to intervene against a Delhi High Court decision to quash tenders outsourcing Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services at Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra.
A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the Union government, through the Ministry of External Affairs, was free to evolve a temporary mechanism to provide services “in a manner as may be appropriate” till fresh allocation of work was made to the lowest bidder (L1) after the new tender process was completed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said the High Court erroneously did not consider that the tender was finalised on the basis of the individual competence of the bidders.
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