Allegations of favouritism emerge over a manpower engagement tender for Sonar Tori State Guest House, raising concerns about transparency, altered tender conditions, and unfair advantages allegedly granted to a single agency in Tripura.
Allegations of favouritism have surfaced against the CEO Society for Management of Sonar Tori State Guest House and other government establishments following the issuance of a recent manpower engagement tender. The tender seeks to appoint manpower hiring agencies to supply workers for catering, housekeeping, laundry services, general manpower support, and private security at Sonar Tori State Guest House and the Circuit House.
According to official sources, earlier tenders followed a structured and transparent system where separate agencies were engaged for different services. Security services, housekeeping, catering, and laundry work were handled by specialized agencies, ensuring fair competition and adherence to professional standards. Contracts were typically awarded to the lowest eligible bidder after competitive evaluation.
However, the current tender has reportedly introduced altered terms and conditions that combine all these services under a single contract. Sources allege that this restructuring has effectively discouraged many eligible agencies that had previously participated in the tendering process from submitting bids this time.
Industry insiders claim that such a model is unprecedented in Tripura’s government tendering system. “There has never been a case where one agency is asked to provide private security guards along with cooks, laundry staff, and housekeeping personnel,” a source stated. “Security agencies specialize in protection services, while catering and housekeeping require entirely different operational expertise. Combining everything under one agency raises serious questions.”
Sources further alleged that the tender conditions appear to have been specifically modified to favor a particular agency. The unusual scope of work has led to concerns that the tendering authority may already be aware of which agency is likely to secure the contract, thereby undermining the principles of open competition.
A senior official familiar with the development described the situation as contradictory to the government’s stated commitment to transparency and fair governance. The allegations have gained significance as Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has repeatedly emphasized clean administration and transparent procurement processes across departments.
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“The Chief Minister is working to establish transparency at every level, but certain officials seem determined to defy these efforts through questionable practices,” the source alleged.
As scrutiny over the tender intensifies, stakeholders are demanding clarification from the authorities and urging a review of the tender conditions. Observers believe that restoring separate service contracts would help ensure fairness, promote competition, and maintain public trust in government procurement systems.
