APHC010365002024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] WEDNESDAY,THE TENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 18559/2024 Between: 1. P PRASAD REDDY,, S/O.P BAYYAPA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, OCC- CONTRACTOR, R/O.H.NO. 17/9-B4-C3-A1, KANALA ANKI REDDY COLONY, KOILAKUNTLA VILLAGE AND MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 4. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, AP STATE HOUSING CORPORATION (APSHCL), VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. 5. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, DISTRICT HEAD HOUSING, AP STATE HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (APSHCL) NANDYAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. 2 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS AND S (P) DIVISION, NANDYAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. 7. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS AND S (P) DIVISION, NANDYAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. 8. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AP CFMS OFFICE, 6TH FLOOR, C-BLOCK, ANJANEYA TOWERS, IBRAHIMPATNAM, KRISHNA DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased tomay be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents not releasing the payment of net balance amount Rs.5,47,313/- vide M Book No. 3059-B, even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i.e., Providing 7.50 HP 3 phase submersible pump sets with required accessories in the bore wells in Layout ID No.l34312 LA 106956 in Koilakuntla Village and Gram Panchayat of Koilakuntla Mandal, vide Agreement No. 07/2023-24, dated 02.05.2023 is questioned, as the same is illegal, arbitraiy and consequently direct the respondents to consider for payment of amounts of Rs.5,47,313/- vide M Book No. 3059-B with interest @24percent per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above-mentioned work forthwith and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2024 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased ay please to direct the respondents to consider for payment of amount of Rs.5,47,313/- vide M Book No. 3059-B with interest @24% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of works i.e. Providing 7.50 HP 3 phase submersible pump sets with required accessories in the bore wells in Layout ID No. 134312 LA 106956 in Koilakuntla Village and Gram Panchayat of Koilakuntla Mandal, Agreement No. 07/2023-24, dated 02.05.2023, forthwith pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BATHALA RAMESH Counsel for the Respondent(S): 3 1. E V JAGANNADHA RAO (SC FOR AP STATE HOUSEING COOP LTD) 2. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 3. GP FOR HOUSING 4. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 4 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO:18559 OF 2024 ORDER: 1. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) under the subject scheme in Nandyal District. After execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.5,47,313/- 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 placed on record written instructions submitted by the Executive Engineer, RWS&S(P) Sub- Division, Nandyal, wherein, it is stated that since the budget was not released by the 5th respondent to the Executive Engineer, RWS&S(P) Sub-Division, Nandyal, the bills were not paid to the petitioner. Soon after release of the budget by the 5th respondent, the bills will be paid to the petitioner. 5 5. In view of the facts and circumstances submitted in the affidavit, and the directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to release the amount of Rs.5,47,313/- to the petitioner. 6. As far as interest component is concerned, if there is any subsisting clause in the agreement/work order envisaging payment or non-payment of interest upon any amount which is due and payable, the same is binding upon both the parties. In the absence of any clause with regard to interest component in the agreement, the respondents are directed to release the amount along with the interest @ 6% per annum on delayed payment, 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 if not paid, within a period of three (03) months 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 10.09.2025 SCH 6 209 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO:18559 OF 2024 10.09.2025 SCH