::1:: APHC010013872025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] FRIDAY,THE TWENTY NINETH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 722/2025 Between: 1. H RANA PRATAP, S/O HANUMANTHE GOWDA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, OCC.CONTRACTOR, R/O D. NO. 10/116, KENKERA VILLAGE, AMARAPURAM MANDAL, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT (ERSTWHILE ANANTHAPUR DISTRICT) ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, A.P SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P. 3. THE COLLECTOR, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, PANCHAYAT RAJ, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT ::2:: 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, PENUKONDA 6. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PR SUB-DIVISION, MADAKASIRA ...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, declaring action of the respondents in not releasing bill amount of Rs. 4,34,929/-, 8,76,207/-, 8,91,766/-, and 8,76,391/-, and interest thereupon, due to the petitioner for the work executed in pursuance of 4 agreements all dated 02.05.2023, entered with the Executive Engineer, PRI Division, Penukonda, as arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory, unjust enrichment, violative of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 14. 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, apart from being contrary to the orders of this Hon'ble Court issued from time to time and consequently direct the respondents to release the bill amounts payable to the petitioner for the works executed by him under the aforesaid agreements, along with interest and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. T B L MURTHY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING ::3:: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 722 of 2025 This Court made the following ORDER: The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) under the subject scheme in Anantapuram District. After execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.30,79,293/- 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 Rs.30,79,293/- 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:: 4. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader placed on record written instructions submitted by the Executive Engineer, PR Division, Penukonda, dated 25.03.2025, wherein, it is admitted that the petitioner is entitled for an amount of Rs.30,36,617/-. It is further stated that uploading of bills to the PAO is under progress. Soon after the bills were uploaded, the bill amount entitled by the petitioner will be paid to the petitioner. 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.30,36,617/- 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 ::5:: period of four (04) 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 and due amount, 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 29.08.2025 KRK ::6:: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA 78 WRIT PETITION NO: 722 OF 2025 29.08.2025 krk