Central Govt Extends Vivad Se Viswas II Deadline: Submit Claims for Pending Disputes on Government Contracts by December 31st 2023 [Read Order]

On Thursday, the Central Government announced a two-month extension, pushing the deadline to December 31, for the submission of claims under the Vivad se Vishwas II scheme. Launched on July 15, this scheme aims to resolve disputes related to government contracts, with the original deadline for claim submissions set at October 31.

Applicable to all domestic contractual disputes involving the government of India or government undertakings, the Vivad se Vishwas II scheme facilitates the settlement of such disputes. The Department of Expenditure confirmed the extension, stating that claims for the scheme could now be submitted until December 31, 2023.

The Office Memorandum of the Department of Expenditure states as follows:

“Attention is invited towards this department’s OM of even number dated 29.05.2023 & 18.09.2023 (copies enclosed) wherein guidelines for Vivad se Vishwas II (Contractual Dispute) scheme were issued. The last date for submission of claims was 31.10.2023. It has been decided that the claims under the said Scheme now can be submitted till 31.12.2023.”

The scheme will apply to contractual disputes where one of the parties is either the Government of India and/ or an organisation detailed below. Apart from Ministries/ Departments, attached and subordinate bodies, notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 1 of the GFRs 2017, the scheme shall also be applicable:

1. to all Autonomous Bodies of the Government of India;
2. to public sector banks and public sector financial institutions;
3. to all Central Public Sector Enterprises;
4. to Union Territories without legislature and all agencies/ undertakings thereof; and
5. to all organisations, like Metro Rail Corporations, where Government of India has shareholding of these organisations can opt out of the scheme at their discretion, with approval of the Board of Directors.

The above mentioned organisations shall hereinafter be referred to as “procuring entities.” The other party in dispute with the procuring entity shall be referred to as contractor(s).

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