Rapuru Sundara Ramireddy vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh,
2023 Latest Caselaw 2029 AP

     THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH


            WRIT PETITION No.31359 of 2022

ORDER:

The Writ Petition under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India is filed seeking to declare the action of

the respondents in withholding the payment of bill amount

of Rs.46,05,682/- even after finalizing the bills payable to

the petitioner in relation to the execution of works executed

under Neeru-Chettu programme at Nellore District as

illegal and arbitrary.

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. The learned Government Pleader submits 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 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.

As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any,

shall stand closed.

_____________________ JUSTICE D.RAMESH Date : 18.04.2023 TPS/KLK

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH

WRIT PETITION No.31359 of 2022

Date: 18.04.2023

TPS /KLK