Citation : 2023 Latest Caselaw 3785 Gua
Judgement Date : 18 September, 2023
Page No.# 1/3
GAHC010206002023
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C)/5434/2023
SAHADUL HUSSAIN
S/O- LATE ZAKIR HUSSAIN,
R/O- NAHARKATIA BATA GALI,
P.O AND P.S- NAHARKATIA, DIST- DIBRUGARH, ASSAM, PIN-786610
VERSUS
THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS.
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DISPUR,
GUWAHATI-6
2:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY
TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM
FINANCE DEPARTMENT DISPUR
GUWAHATI-6
3:THE CHIEF ENGINEER
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (ROADS)
ASSAM
CHANDMARI
GUWAHATI-03
4:THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER
PUBLIC WORKS ROADS DEPARTMENT
DIBRUGARH ROAD DIVISION
DIBRUGARH
5:THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (R AND B)
DIBRUGARH ROAD CIRCLE
DIBRUGAR
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR H MAZUMDER
Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FINANCE
BEFORE
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MANISH CHOUDHURY
ORDER
18.09.2023
Heard Mr. B.P. Borah, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. B. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Public Works Department [PWD] for all the respondents.
2. According to the petitioner, the petitioner executed a contract-work viz. 'S/R to Connecting North Balijan to Hatiali bazaar Road under Dibrugarh Road Sub-Division in
Dibrugarh Road Division for 1 st to 2nd KM providing E/W, GWC, wiring coarse & side bern for 2001-02' ['the Contract-Work', for short] for the respondent PWD authorities. When despite submission of final bills against the Contract-Work was not disbursed to the petitioner, the petitioner had earlier approached this Court by way of a writ petition, W.P.[C] no. 2953/2009. The said writ petition, W.P.[C] no. 2953/2009 was disposed of by an order dated 24.07.2009 with a direction to the respondent authorities to consider the case of the petitioner in the light of the direction contained in the Full Bench judgment of this Court in Writ Appeal no. 484/2005 [Tamsher Ali & Ors. vs. State of Assam & Ors.], reported in 2008 [4] GLT 1 [FB] and similar other 194 writ petitions.
3. From the decision in Tamsher Ali [supra], it transpires that the Public Works Department [PWD] is to prepare a list of contractors to whom money is admitted to be due on account of contract-work performed and such list is to be prepared Division-Wise in strict chronological order wise on the basis of date on which payment is due. It further transpires Page No.# 3/3
that on the basis of the funds received by the PWD, the same is to be applied for discharge of the admitted due in the order in which the list is prepared and maintained Division-Wise.
4. The petitioner has submitted that despite the direction made in the order dated 24.07.2009 [supra], the respondent authorities have not yet disbursed the sum of Rs. 18,77,269/- which amount, is prima facie found to be due, as per the annexures appended to the writ petition.
5. Mr. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, PWD has submitted that he will obtain instructions as to whether the claim of the petitioner is admitted liability and as to why despite elapse of a period of about 14 years the respondent authorities have not yet disbursed the amount.
6. Issue notice, returnable in 4 [four] weeks.
7. As Mr. Gogoi has appeared and accepted notices on behalf of all the respondents, no formal notices are needed to be issued to the respondents. Mr. Borah shall furnish requisite nos. of extra copies of the writ petition along with the annexures, to Mr. Gogoi within 2 [two] working days from today.
8. List the case after 4 [four] weeks.
JUDGE
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