Hyderabad: Allegations of large-scale irregularities have surfaced in the award of a NIMS labour contract, with claims that an unqualified Chennai-based company secured the tender despite failing to meet mandatory eligibility criteria.
The controversy relates to labour contract tenders invited by Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in July last year. Critics have alleged that transparency was ignored during the selection process and that officials favoured a company that lacked the required experience to manage patient care services in a major government hospital.
According to the tender conditions, participating firms were required to demonstrate experience in managing at least 500 patient care staff in a government super-specialty hospital with a minimum capacity of 500 beds during the previous three years.
Former contractors alleged that the Chennai-based company had only handled labour contracts in a few hospitals and did not possess the qualifications required under the tender guidelines. They further claimed that documents submitted by the firm contained discrepancies and did not adequately establish eligibility.
The allegations also point to the company’s Memorandum of Association under the Companies Act, 2013. Critics claimed that its stated objectives primarily covered property management, building management, housekeeping and security services, with no specific mention of patient care, clinical support or hospital-related auxiliary services.
Questions raised over NIMS labour contract evaluation
The company had earlier secured a contract at another government hospital and had faced allegations of irregularities there as well, according to critics. They claimed that protests were held over the handling of that contract and questioned how the same company later secured work at NIMS.
Questions have also been raised regarding the experience certificate submitted by the company. Critics alleged that the certificate was signed by a Resident Medical Officer instead of a Medical Superintendent, which they claim did not comply with prescribed norms.
Former contractors further alleged that the company received unusually high scores during the technical evaluation process despite lacking the required qualifications and experience. They accused senior officials of influencing the evaluation and tender allocation process.
The most serious allegation concerns an alleged Rs 1.50 crore bribery arrangement linked to the NIMS labour contract award. A doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that multiple individuals, including officials associated with the process, benefited from the deal. However, no official confirmation of these allegations has been issued, and the claims remain unverified.
