The BMC on Monday informed the Bombay high court that it would not reconsider its decision of awarding contracts to tainted bidders and would argue before the court how the decision was justified.

A division bench of Justice Shantanu S. Kemkar and Justice Markand S. Karnik on Monday said that it was ready to dispose of the PIL if the civic body was ready to reconsider its decision.

However, BMC counsel told the court that the bids had been invited before the BMC commissioner filed complaint against the three contractors and the process of awarding the contract had already begun and was justified as per rules and hence, the municipal corporation would argue on merits.

It may be recalled that social activist Jaishree Khadilkar, through advocate S.P. Sarnath, had filed a PIL in the high court taking objection to BMC’s decision to award contracts to tainted contractors.

The petition first came up before a vacation bench for hearing and the court stayed the standing committee’s decision to award contracts to tainted bidders.

The bench stayed the decision of awarding contracts to J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd and RPS Infraprojects Pvt Ltd.

While granting the stay, the court reprimanded BMC authorities and public representatives for taking the detrimental step of awarding tenders to tainted contractors.