High Court sides with SJ over disqualification of housing bids

The High Court has sided with SJ over the decision by the state to disqualify bids it submitted for public housing projects in three islands.

The decision follows SJ’s earlier win in the case in the Civil Court.

The case stems from bids submitted by a joint venture between SJ Trade and SJ Construction in response to an invitation by the Finance Ministry to submit proposals to complete housing projects in Th. Vilufushi, HDh. Hanimaadhoo and HDh. Nolhivaranfaru.

The National Tender Board disqualified SJ’s bids, citing that they did not meet the employer’s requirement and the financial resources requirement.

SJ filed a lawsuit over the decision.

The Civil Court decided in favor of SJ, and instructed the Finance Ministry to establish that the company’s bid met requirements, and award the contract to the bidder that scores the highest points.

The ruling was contested by the state with the High Court.

However, the three-member bench that heard the case – composed of judges Mohamed Shaneez Abdulla, Dheebanaz Fahmy and Abdul Maniu Hussain – decided there was no grounds to revise the Civil Court’s judgement.