The parliamentary committee took the decision on Tuesday after a heated debate over whether the documents should be sought from the ministry. The committee has given five days for the ministry to furnish the documents. [break]
Lawmakers led by Bimalendra Nidhi wanted the documents related to the bid for study but another group of parliamentarians led by Post Bahadur Bogati was of the view that the ministry should be given time to address the issue in question before the committee starts studying the documents.
But the both groups of lawmakers were at consensus that the current bidding process should not stopped.
Most of the lawmakers were mainly concerned that the ministry selected France-based Oberthur Technologies for printing and personalizing MRPs although the printers offered by the firm allegedly do not comply with mandatory technical specifications mentioned in the tender document.
But Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai and technical expert Bikal Poudel said that the company was selected because it has fulfilled all parameters specified in the tender document.
"We will hear the complaint. We will investigate," Secretary Bhattarai told the committee.
Lawmaker Anil Jha claimed that the passports supposed to be procured from the French company would compromise security features. "The passport offered by India was more secure than the ones to be supplied by the French company," Jha said demanding revocation of the tender.
But technical expert Poudel argued, "The passports to be procured under the tender will be more secure than the ones offered by India."
He further said that the security aspect of MRP would be tested in an independent lab before the passports are issued.
Responding to another question by Jha, Chief of Protocol Mukti Nath Bhatta said that the passports would last for ten years. Jha also demanded that the committee should ask the ministry to furnish documents of previous tender that was canceled last December and the documents related to MRP deal with India.
The deal was canceled amidst a political controversy.
Lawmaker Nidhi said that the passports to be procured should be secure, standard and should be delivered as early as possible. Nidhi, who used to be absent in past meetings of the committee, was present to take part in the discussion on MRP tender.
Another lawmaker Pramod Kumar Gupta argued that the "bureaucrats cannot decide about a tender during a rule of a caretaker government".
Parliamentarian Hridayesh Tripathi expressed concern over a provision in the tender that allows the French company to own personalized data.
Similarly, lawmaker Dhana Raj Gurung said that efforts are underway to give the contract to India by dragging the tender into a controversy.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Perum Peruri and Britain-based De La Rue -- two security printers -- have filed their complaint against the decision to award the tender to the French company, asking the ministry to review the decision under the Public Procurement Act.
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