Ramisetty Veerabhadrudu, vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh,
2022 Latest Caselaw 7639 AP

           HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

                WRIT PETITION No.28396 of 2022

ORDER:

The petitioner had been awarded the contract for

taking up the "Neeru-Chettu" programme for improvements

to the approach road (near chinnavangali Village) leading to

canal cross regulators @ Km 94.125 of TGP main canal at

starting of Hill, vide Agreement No.13/2017-18, dated

28.06.2017. After execution of the said work, a final bill for

Rs.7,96,050/- 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 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 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.

4. The learned Government Pleader for Irrigation

had filed counter stating that the respondent authorities are

verifying the claims 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 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 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 amount 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.

As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any,

shall stand closed.

____________________________ R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO, J.

11.10.2022 BSM

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN RAO

WRIT PETITION No.28396 of 2022

11.10.2022

BSM