The Village Works Committee vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh
2022 Latest Caselaw 2198 AP

        HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

                WRIT PETITION No.8714 of 2022

ORDER:

The petitioner had been awarded the contract for

construction of various works at Komaravolu Village, Pamarru

Mandal, Krishna District, under an Agreement. After execution

of the said contract, a final bill for a sum of Rs.19,84,996/- had

been prepared on the basis of Measurement Book. 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 sums 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.

4. In view of the aforesaid directions of this Court in

various cases and after hearing the submissions of the learned

counsel for the petitioner, learned Government pleader for

Panchayat Raj and learned counsel appearing for the

respondents, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to

the respondents to release the amount of Rs.19,84,996/- to the

petitioner at the earliest, and at any rate, within a period of six

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 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.

30.04.2022 RJS

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

WRIT PETITION No.8714 of 2022

30.04.2022 RJS