M/S. Pranav Agency, vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh,
2022 Latest Caselaw 8237 AP

          THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K. MANMADHA RAO

                    WRIT PETITION No.32672 OF 2022

ORDER:

This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India, seeking the following relief:

".....to issue a Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the amount for supplying the machineries/ equipments to the respondent authorities by the petitioner even though admitted amount for Rs. 12,70,000/- (Twelve Lakhs Seventy Thousand Rupees Only) is illegal, arbitrary, violative of principles of natural justice, contrary to the Rules and Regulations and consequently direct the respondents to pay the admitted amounts of Rs. 12,70,000/- (Twelve lakhs seventy thousand rupees only) with cumulative interest and pass such other orders...."

2. Heard Mr. Dasari S.V.V.S.V.Prasad, learned counsel for

the petitioner; learned Government Pleader for Agriculture for the

respondents 1 and 2 and learned Government Pleader for Finance

for the 3rd respondent.

3. Brief facts of the case of the petitioner is that the

petitioner's firm supplied machineries like Oil Engines, Machines/

Instruments supplied to the farmers as per the directions issued by

the respondents from time to time under the scheme of Pradhan

Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), National Food Security

Mission (NFSM), Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization

(SMAM). The petitioner's firm has supplied Agriculture implements,

for which, the Government has to pay the amount. But, the

respondent authorities withheld an amount of Rs. 12,70,000/-,

which the petitioner's firm is entitled to. The respondents did not

initiate any action to pay the same to the petitioner, which is illegal

and arbitrary. Hence the writ petition came to be filed.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even

though respondents admitted that the petitioner's firm is entitled

for payment of the aforesaid sum of money, no payment is being

made and such non-payment of money is clearly arbitrary and

high- handed and thereby requires interference by this court. He

further submits that having approved the bills with CFMS token

numbers, non-payment of bill amount is arbitrary and illegal.

5. 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 needs to be

cleared by the respondents at the earliest.

6. The learned Government Pleader submits that the

respondents- authorities are verifying the claims of the petitioner

and would be in a position to make payments only after such

verification is being completed.

7. In view of the aforesaid directions of this court in various

cases and after hearing both sides, this Court is inclined to dispose

of the writ petition with a direction to the respondents to complete

the verification process within a period of four (4) weeks from the

date of receipt of a copy of this order and thereafter to pay the

amounts due to the petitioner depending upon the outcome of the

verification within a period of six (6) weeks. It would also be open

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

the respondents in an appropriate forum. No costs.

8. In view of the foregoing discussion, the Writ Petition is

disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall

also stand closed.

___________________________ DR.K. MANMADHA RAO, J

Date: 01.11.2022

KK

THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K. MANMADHA RAO

WRIT PETITION No.32672 OF 2022

Date: 01.11.2022

KK