PANAJI: The fate of Shmnit Utsch India Private Ltd, which was awarded the contract for implementing the high security registration plates scheme in the state, hangs in the balance as the file will be placed before the state cabinet for a final decision as the advocate general has already given his opinion.

The director of transport, Mr Swapnil Naik informed ‘The Navhind Times’ that it is up to the state government to make the final call on the HSRP after analysing all the pros and cons.
He said that the government is also expected to take the recent Supreme Court judgement into consideration while making the final call.
He, however, preferred not to comment when asked about the comments made by the advocate general.
It may be also recalled that the company had recently written to the government that it was willing to negotiate with it on all issues including the price factor.
Recently, the SC has dismissed appeals by foreign multi-national backed Indian firms -- Shmnit Utsch India Private Ltd and Tonnjes Eastern Security Technologies Pvt Ltd – claiming that state governments had no right to change the conditions laid down in the central law proposed notice inviting tenders for HSRPs.
Indian HSRP manufacturers had protested against the experience and certain minimum turnover clauses attached to the notice inviting tenders (NITs) and alleged that this was tailor-made for foreign multi-nationals to bag the contracts for supply of HSRPs.
The director of transport said that the SC judgement will be considered seriously and that the department is trying to get a copy of the said judgement and added that the report along with the copy will now be placed before the government at the next cabinet meeting.