PATNA, Sept. 9 -- The Patna high court on Tuesday gave the Bihar government four weeks to file its counter affidavit in a case alleging irregularities in the procurement of microwave-based biomedical waste sterilisation systems and associated items for government health facilities. A division bench of acting chief justice Sudhir Singh and justice Rajesh Kumar Verma granted the additional time and posted the matter for further hearing on October 6. The court had given the state and the Bihar Medical Services Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL), which handles procurement s, four weeks to file their replies on July 13. The matter was subsequently listed for August 10. At the next hearing, the court granted another four weeks after BMSICL sought additional time. Appearing for petitioner Kaushlesh Kumar, senior advocate Sanjeev Kumar Mishra told the court that despite two orders, the state had not filed its counter affidavit. He also submitted that BMSICL's affidavit did not address paragraph 12 of the petition, which alleged a stark difference between the market price and the rate at which biomedical dustbins were procured. Kumar has sought directions for stoppage of payments, registration of FIR and a vigilance or CBI probe. He alleged a tender floated in 2023 was manipulated to favour a particular firm. Following a plaint by Kumar. on August 21, health minister Nishant directed action into allegations of financial irregularities, tender manipulation and corruption in the procurement of microwave-compatible dustbins and customised biodegradable bags by BMSICL between 2024 and 2026....