The Bombay High Court has allowed MTDC’s Deccan Odyssey to operate by squashing a PIL calling for its stoppage and an investigation into a five-year deal with Thomas Cook.
While squashing the PIL, the HC did call for an affidivate from MTDC explaining why it had leased the luxury train to Thomas Cook. It said that all of MTDC’s actions with regards to the train and its lease for trips outside India were subject to its orders.
Harshad Gawade, a tour operator from Sindhurdurg, Maharashtra, had filed the PIL claiming that the MTDC-Thomas Cook lease was allowing the train to operate outisde of Maharashtra thereby causing a loss of revenue and jobs in the state.
The PIL specifically relates to the MTDC leasing its most luxurious train to a Delhi-based private company, Luxury train, which in turn sub-leased it to Thomas Cook, which in turn changed the train’s name to Indian Maharaja. Gawade alleges MTDC executed this transaction without floating a tender, thus flouting government norms.
On its part, MTDC said it would file its reply by Monday, November 16, 2009.
