Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
E Kumar vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh, on 5 January, 2024
HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA
WRIT PETITION No.277 of 2024
ORDER:
1. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of various works under various schemes in YSR (Kadapa) District. After execution of the said contract, final bills were prepared totalling to a sum of Rs.5,11,874/- as per the sanctioned orders along with earned money deposit, Future security deposit and other security deposits. As the payment of the said amount has not been made by the respondents, the petitioner has approached this Court by way of this writ petition.
2. It is the contention of the petitioner that even though the respondents admitted that the petitioner is entitled for payment of the aforesaid sum of money, no payment is being made. The petitioner contends 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 the view that such non-payment of dues is arbitrary and that such dues need to be cleared by the respondents at the earliest.
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4. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader for Irrigation while admitting about the claim of the petitioner placed on record instructions received from the Executive Engineer, Kadapa, dated 05.01.2024. He would submit that after getting approval from the Government, bills will be processed for payment.
5. In view of the aforesaid directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Irrigation, this Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions:
a. the respondents are directed to release the amount of Rs.5,11,874/- to the petitioner, along with the interest @ 6% per annum, in view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in Writ Appeal No.724 of 2021 and batch dated 12.10.2023, within a period of six (06) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It would also be open to the petitioner to agitate his claim for higher rate of interest, if any payable by the respondents, in an appropriate forum. b. the respondents are directed to pay the earnest money deposit, future security deposit and other security deposits to the petitioner as per agreement Nos.55FDR/2016-17, 51FDR/2016-17, 52FDR/2016-17 & 53FDR/2016-17 within a 3 period of four (04) thereafter. There shall be no order as to costs.
Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.
______________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J 05.01.2024 TPS 4 134 HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION No.277 of 2024 05.01.2024 TPS