HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU WP(C) No.3192/2025 Date of pronouncement: 17.11.2025 Date of uploading:18.11.2025 Shokat Ali ….Petitioner(s)/Appellant(s) Through :- Mr. Ahtisham Hussain, Advocate. V/s 01. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir Through its Commissioner/Secretary, PW (R&B) Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu/Srinagar. 02. The Chief Engineer, PW, (R&B) Deptt. Chenab Zone Batote. 03. The Superintending Engineer, PW (R&B) Doda. 04. The Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), Special Sub-Division, Gandoh. ….Respondent(s) Through :- None. Coram: HON’BLE MS JUSTICE MOKSHA KHAJURIA KAZMI, JUDGE ORDER (17.11.2025) 1. By this petition, the petitioner herein is seeking a direction upon the respondents to release the payment to the tune of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Rupees twenty lacs only) in his favour along with interest thereon at the prevailing bank rate from the date of accrual till its realization. 2. It is submitted that the JCB and Tipper of the petitioner were engaged by the respondents from time to time for restoration of various roads falling under Special Sub-Division, Gandoh. Sr.No. 145 2 WP(C) No.3192/2025 3. After completion of the allotted works, petitioner raised bills/invoices for the aforesaid works before the official respondents seeking clearance of liability accrued on account of the execution of works duly allotted in his favour. However, despite repeated representations and reminders, the payment could not be disbursed in favour of petitioner. Copy of an interdepartmental communication dated 16.03.2019 is also placed on record, whereby funds have been sought to clear the liability of Rs. 20.00 lacs accrued towards petitioner. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would feel satisfied, if the respondents are directed to consider release of the admitted liability in his favour within certain time frame. 5. Having regard to the innocuous prayer made by the learned counsel for petitioner, the instant petition is disposed of, at its threshold, with a direction to the respondents to consider and decide the claim of petitioner, as projected in the writ petition, and take a decision thereon within a period of two months from the date a certified copy of this order is furnished by the petitioner to them. In case the petitioner is found entitled to the claim, so projected, the same shall be released in his favour by the respondents within a period of two weeks from the date of such decision. The decision so taken by the respondents shall be conveyed to the petitioner. 6. Disposed of along with all CMs. (MOKSHA KHAJURIA KAZMI) JUDGE Jammu: 17.11.2025 Sushant 3 WP(C) No.3192/2025