APHC010552752024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE [3459] PRESENT THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM WRIT PETITION No.29068 OF 2024 Between: A. Govindamma --- Petitioner and The State of A.P., Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Irrigation Department, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District and 5 others --- Respondents Counsel for the petitioner : Sri Pasapala Sudhakar Reddy Counsel for the respondents : G.P for Irrigation & CAD G.P for Finance and Planning The Court made the following ORDER: This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed by the petitioner seeking the following relief: “………..to issue a Writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in not releasing and not crediting the amounts even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to execution of works under the scheme of “Neeru Chettu” i.e., Agreements Agreement No.695DN/2017-18, dt.20.05.2017 for the work of Repairs to check dam across Peddakonda vagu near JS,J WP No.29068/2024 2 TKM Peta (v) in Karvetinagaram Mandal of Chittoor District for the amount of Rs.5,01,483/- (five lacks one thousand four hundred eighty three rupees only) as illegal, arbitrary, violation of Principles of Natural Justice, Violation of Articles 14, 21 and 300- A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the Official Respondents to pay an amount due to the petitioner in respect of execution of aforementioned works forthwith and to pass such other order or further orders as the Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case …………” 2. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that she has participated in the tender process and stood as successful bidder. The 5th respondent has entered into an agreement with the petitioner vide agreement No.695DN/2017-18, dated 20.05.2017, for execution of Repairs to check dam across Peddakonda vagu near TKM Peta (v) in Karvetinagaram Mandal of Chittoor District, during the year 2017-2018. The petitioner has completed the works within the stipulated time. The respondent authorities have issued the Quality Control Certificate on 25.10.2024 and also issued Measurement Books and passed the bill for an amount of Rs.5,01,433/-. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has borrowed amounts from third parties to execute the works and is paying huge interest. Though the works were completed long back, the bill amount is not yet released to the petitioner. Learned counsel for the JS,J WP No.29068/2024 3 petitioner further submits that in similar circumstances, this Court in S. Srinivas v. State of Andhra Pradesh and others1 held as under: “21) In the considered opinion of this Court, withholding the amount for which the petitioner is legitimately entitled is nothing but depriving the petitioner. Due to illegal action of non-payment of the amounts promptly by clearing the bills submitted by the petitioner after execution of works, the petitioner could not feed and see the welfare of his family properly and he could not make payments to his employees/workers and he could not make payments to the material suppliers and he has to pay interests for the debts incurred by him for execution of works. Due to this situation, petitioner’s respect and dignity in the society will be deteriorated. 22) As such this Court holds that withholding the amount, for which the petitioner is legally entitled, is illegal, arbitrary, and unjust and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. 23) …………….. 24) A larger bench of the Hon’ble Apex Court in Secretary, Irrigation Department, Government of Orissa and others V. G.C.Roy opined as extracted hereunder: “A person deprived of the use of money to which he is legitimately entitled has right to be compensated for the deprivation, call it by any name. It may be called interest, compensation or damages”. 25) The High Court of Andhra Pradesh in J. Devendra Reddy V Kakatiya University and another held that withholding of the amount payable to the petitioner for the contract works, constitutes patent arbitrariness on the part of the respondents.” 1 2021 Lawsuit (AP) 390 JS,J WP No.29068/2024 4 4. This Court has observed that though the works were completed long back and the bills were passed, the respondents have not released the amounts so far on the ground of insufficiency of funds. Since there is no dispute with regard to the works and the bills amount, the respondents should pay the bills amount on “first done first paid” basis. Apart from that, priority or preference should be given to those, whose works are below Rs.50.00 lakhs as they are the affected persons. 5. In view of my foregoing discussion and the law laid down by this Court in S. Srinivas (supra), the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions: i) The respondents are directed to clear the bills submitted by the petitioner and release the payment of Rs.5,01,433/- within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order with interest at 12% p.a. ii) The interest shall be computed from the date of expiry of one (1) month from the date of submission of the bills by the petitioner till the date of payment. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM Date: 07.04.2025 DSH