Y.Naga Narendra vs The Government Of Ap
2022 Latest Caselaw 4856 AP

            HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

                  WRIT PETITION No.20595 of 2022

ORDER:

The petitioner, who is a civil contractor, had been entrusted the

contract work for providing CC Road and drain in Ward No.22 in

Machilipatnam, under agreement dated 12.02.2019. After execution of the

said work, a final bill for Rs.6,25,720/- had been prepared and submitted

to the concerned for payment. As the payment of the said amounts has

not been made by the respondents, the petitioner had 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. Sri M. Manohar Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for

Municipalities submits that the respondent authorities are verifying the

claim of the petitioner 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

petitioner, learned Standing Counsel for Municipalities, this writ petition is

RRR,J W.P.No.20595 of 2022

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 petitioner 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 petitioner, without

insisting upon any further time for verification. It would also be open to

the petitioner to agitate his/her/their claim for interest, if any payable by

the respondents, in an appropriate forum. There shall be no order as to

costs.

6. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall

stand closed.

____________________________ R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO, J.

1st August, 2022 Js.

RRR,J W.P.No.20595 of 2022

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

WRIT PETITION No.20595 of 2022

1st August, 2022

Js.