The Supreme Court has restored two winning bids for sand-mining groups in Madhya Pradesh, holding that a public authority cannot reject the highest offer merely by comparing it with the bidder’s earlier, higher contract price.
The court said the corporation lacked current material showing that the October 2025 bids for Shahdol and Katni were inadequate. Earlier surrenders and a later participation restriction could not retrospectively justify cancelling a completed auction.
In its 14 October 2026 judgment, the court directed the bidders to confirm their offers and complete security requirements. The corporation must then finish approval and allotment, while the later tender process for the two groups cannot proceed. Disputes concerning dues under earlier contracts were left open.