Reddi Taviti Naidu, vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh
2023 Latest Caselaw 5984 AP

Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati

Reddi Taviti Naidu, vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh on 11 December, 2023

     THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA

                      WRIT PETITION No.22090 of 2023

ORDER:

1. The petitioner had been awarded various contract works under the

subject scheme in Srikakulam District. After execution of the said

contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.9,21,552/- as per the

sanctioned orders. 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 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. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader for Irrigation while

admitting about the claim of the petitioner placed on record instructions

received from the Executive Engineer, WRD, Irrigation Division,

Parvathipuram dated 07.12.2023. He would submit that, since the budget

was not released by the Government, the bills were not paid to the

petitioner. Soon after release of the budget by the Government, the bills

will be paid to the petitioner.

5. In view of the aforesaid directions of this Court in various cases and

after hearing the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner, learned

Government Pleader for Irrigation this Writ Petition is disposed of with a

direction to the respondents to release the amount of Rs.9,21,552/- to the

petitioner along with the interest @ 6% per annum, in view of the judgment

of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in Writ Appeal No.724 of 2021

and batch dated 12.10.2023, within a period of six (06) 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 higher rate of interest, if any payable by

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

costs.

Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ

Petition shall stand closed.

_____________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J

11.12.2023

SP