HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO
WRIT PETITION No.24838 of 2022
ORDER:
The petitioners had been awarded the contract for taking up the "Neeru-Chettu" programme for various works under various agreements. After execution of the said work, a final bills for Rs.8,65,399/-, Rs.3,47,608/-, Rs.6,99,620/-, Rs.5,95,184/- and Rs.3,70,595/- had been prepared and submitted to the concerned for payment. As the payment of the said amount has not been made by the respondents, the petitioners had approached this Court, by way of this writ petition.
2. It is the contention of the petitioners that even though the respondents admitted that the petitioners are entitled for payment of the aforesaid sums of money, no payment is being made. The petitioners contend that such non-payment of money is clearly arbitrary and high-handed requiring the interference of this Court.
3. This Court, in various orders, including the judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court dated 05.10.2021 in W.P.No.10038 of 2021 and batch had taken 2 RRR,J W.P.No. 24838 of 2022 the view that such non-payment of dues is arbitrary and that such dues need to be cleared by the respondents at the earliest.
4. The learned Government Pleader submits that the respondent authorities are verifying the claims of the petitioners and would be in a position to make payment only after such verification is completed.
5. In view of the aforesaid directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Irrigation, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to complete the verification process within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and thereafter to pay the amount due to the petitioners depending upon the outcome of the verification, within a period of six weeks. It is clarified that in the event of the verification process not being completed within the aforesaid period of three weeks, the respondents shall pay the amounts due to the petitioners, without insisting upon any further time for verification. It would also be open to the petitioners to agitate his/her/their 3 RRR,J W.P.No. 24838 of 2022 claim for interest, if any payable by the respondents, in an appropriate forum. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed.
____________________________ R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO, J.
29.08.2022 SSP 4 RRR,J W.P.No. 24838 of 2022 HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO WRIT PETITION No.24838 of 2022 29.08.2022 SSP