Delhi High Court Scraps VFS Global India Visa Tender for Australia
The Delhi High Court has completely set aside the tender process used to award outsourced Indian consular, passport, and visa services in Australia to VFS Global. The unexpected ruling follows findings that the technical evaluation of the bids was arbitrary, irrational, and lacked transparency. Amid widespread concern regarding potential service disruptions, thousands of expatriates, including the Malayali community, are closely monitoring the full implications of the court’s decision.
Major Irregularities in Tender Evaluation
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetrapal and Justice Shail Jain nullified the high-stakes procurement process. The sweeping judicial order invalidates the contract awards not only for Australia but also for outsourced services across the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Singapore.
The legal challenge was mounted by E Trav Tech Limited and Verasys Limited, companies that were disqualified during the technical assessment stage after receiving scores of 62.2 and 61.25 marks respectively—falling below the mandatory 70 per cent threshold. Their financial proposals were consequently excluded from final consideration by the evaluation committees.
High Fees Prompt Fresh Judicial Orders
Court records revealed a stark disparity in the financial bids submitted for the Australian contract. While E Trav Tech Limited proposed a service fee of just $38, the successful bidder, VFS Global, secured the tender with a quote of $114. The judges noted that awarding vastly different scores to materially identical proposals submitted across different countries was highly discriminatory and legally unsustainable.
The High Court has directed India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the High Commission of India in Canberra to launch a fresh, fully transparent tender process within one month. The bench emphasised that excluding substantially lower-priced bidders through an opaque system violates the fundamental principles of fairness and equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Interim Relief Measures for Expatriates
To prevent immediate inconvenience to the public and avoid operational backlogs, the court has permitted the incumbent provider, VFS Global, to continue delivering services provisionally until the fresh procurement process is finalised. This interim directive offers significant relief to thousands of applicants currently waiting for passport renewals and visa processing.
The arrangement is strictly temporary to ensure public services face zero disruption. Applicants have been advised to monitor official updates published on the websites of VFS Global and the High Commission of India before visiting application centres.
What are your thoughts on the high service fees charged for Indian visa and passport services, and the High Court’s decision to cancel the tender? Share your opinions in the comments below.
