APHC010395642025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] WEDNESDAY,THE THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 20169/2025 Between: 1. K V RAMANA REDDY, S/O. K.V. SUBBA REDDY AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR, R/O. PLOT.NO. 301, SRI SIRI AVENUE, MARUTHI CO-OP COLONY, PATAMATA, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF, MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, IRRIGATION BHAVAN, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT, 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION CIRCLE OFFICE GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION DIVISION GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 6. THE COMMISSIONER, COMMAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CAD) WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT. 2 VS,J W.P.No.20169 of 2025 7. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 8. THE PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, GUNTUR, GUNTUR 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 topleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declare the action on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill an amount of not releasing the final bill an amount of Rs.22,46,600/- vide Agreement No.05/2024-25, dated 13.08.2024, D.R.No. 03/2024-25, dt. 25.06.2024 and M.Book.No.1556G, with interest of execution of completion of O and M works, name of the work O and M Removal of Weed from Km. 22,650 to Km. 31,000 of Guntur Channel and its distributaries in between km. 23.400 to km. 30.000 of Guntur Channel In Guntur District for the year 2024-25 ( Second Call) under Irrigation Department as per agreement to the petitioner till today and causing heavy loss with interest even though total work was completed as per the agreement as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequentially to direct the respondents releasing the final bill of total amount worth of Rs.22,46,600/- for execution of completion of Irrigation works under Irrigation Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 pleased to direct the respondents releasing the Final Bill amount of Rs.22,46,600/-, with interest of execution of completion of O&M works under Irrigation Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith, and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. PAMARTHI KAMESWARA RAO 3 VS,J W.P.No.20169 of 2025 Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR REVENUE 2. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 3. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 4 VS,J W.P.No.20169 of 2025 THE HONOURABLE Smt. JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO:20169 OF 2025 ORDER: 1. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.22,46,600/- as per the sanctioned orders confirming the same, respondents also issued quality control certificate dated 14.07.2025 to a tune of Rs.17,84,075/-. 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 Pleaders Irrigation and Finance Planning on oral instructions, stated that, since the budget was not released by the Government, the bills were not paid to the petitioner. Soon after release 5 VS,J W.P.No.20169 of 2025 of the budget by the Government, the bills will be paid to the petitioner, however, admitted the amount payable to the petitioner as per the quality control certificate dated 14.07.2025 filed by the petitioner to a tune of Rs. 17,84,075/-. 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 to the petitioner in accordance with the quality control certificate dated 14.07.2025 issued by the respondents within a period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 6. As far as interest component is concerned, if there is any subsisting clause in the agreement/work order envisaging payment of interest upon any amount which is due and payable, the same is binding upon both the parties. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Dt.03.09.2025 JLV