Patchikura Ramu vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh
2023 Latest Caselaw 6172 AP

Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati

Patchikura Ramu vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh on 27 December, 2023

     HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA


               WRIT PETITION No.8985 of 2023
ORDER:

1. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s)

under the subject scheme in Visakhapatnam District. After

execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a

sum of Rs.7,07,095/- and Rs.9,36,989/- respectively 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,

Nellore, dated 08.12.2023. He would submit that budget is not

released, bill could not be made to the petitioner. Soon after

release of budget, payments will be made 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.7,07,095/- and Rs.9,36,989/-

respectively 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

27.12.2023 BSK/SCH

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA

27.12.2023 BSK/SCH