Miscellaneous
Tendering unmasked
IN A run-of-the-mill government tender, the contract is awarded to the party quoting the lowest for the job. An aura of secrecy surrounds the entire tendering process. The `sealed' tenders are opened at the appointed time in full public view. The winner opens the champagne bottle when the contract is awarded to him. The heady feeling is not without reason. He is not a sucker to have quoted low. Instead, he is now going to make public, suckers. And how? By compromising on quality at every stage of the jo b. This view is not that of a hard-boiled cynic. Many architects and structural engineers share it, especially in the aftermath of the gristly tragedy that struck Gujarat recently.

Taxation
Exorcising excise
UNDER the provisions of Section 11D of the Central Excise Act, 1944, every person who is liable to pay duty under the Act and the rules made thereunder and has collected any amount in excess of the duty assessed/ determined and paid on excisable goods fr om the buyer of such goods in any manner as representing duty of excise, shall have to pay forthwith the amount so collected to the credit of the Central Government.

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