APHC010426452025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] WEDNESDAY,THE NINETEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 22304/2025 Between: 1. M/S. JAIN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS LIMITED,, REPRESENTED BY ITS SENIOR MANAGER, NAGARAJU PRADEEP KUMAR, H.NO.1-1- 782/B/5, 0PP. PARK, NEAR CANARA BANK, GANDHINAGAR, HYDERABAD-500080, TELANGANA. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER PROJECTS AND DISTRICT WATER RESOURCE OFFICER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, KADAPA, KADAPA DISTRICT. 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, SKD GNSS PROJECT CIRCLE, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, KADAPA, KADAPA 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 2 VS,J W.P.No.22304 of 2025 pleased topleased to issue an appropriate Writ Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in withholding the payments that are payable to the petitioner for the work of providing terminal distribution network through sumps, pumping system, pipe lines and Micro Irrigation System in canal command areas of Lingala canal system Micro-Block-1 for an amount of Rs. 34,53,243/- (Thirty Four Lakhs Fifty Three Thousand Two Hundred and Forty Three Only) as illegal arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 19(1)(g), 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to release the payments for an amount of Rs. 34,53,243/- (Thirty Four Lakhs Fifty Three Thousand Two Flundred and Forty Three Only) along with 6percent interest with in a time bound period and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. M SHANMUKHA TEJA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 3 VS,J W.P.No.22304 of 2025 ORDER: The present Writ Petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:- “….to issue an appropriate Writ Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in withholding the payments that are payable to the petitioner for the work of providing terminal distribution network through sumps, pumping system, pipe lines and Micro Irrigation System in canal command areas of Lingala canal system Micro-Block-1 for an amount of Rs. 34,53,243/- (Thirty Four Lakhs Fifty Three Thousand Two Hundred and Forty Three Only) as illegal arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 19(1)(g), 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to release the payments for an amount of Rs. 34,53,243/- (Thirty Four Lakhs Fifty Three Thousand Two Flundred and Forty Three Only) along with 6percent interest with in a time bound period and to pass….” 2. The petitioner had been awarded the work of providing terminal distribution network through sumps, pumping systems, pipelines and micro irrigation system in canal command areas of Lingala Canal System – micro block-1 for 2500 acres. The grievance of the petitioner is that despite completing the works as per the agreement entered, the respondents have withheld an amount of Rs.34,53,243/- payable to the petitioner. 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. 3. 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- 4 VS,J W.P.No.22304 of 2025 payment of money is clearly arbitrary and high-handed requiring the interference of this Court. 4. 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. 5. On the other hand, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Civil Supplies, furnished a copy of the letter addressed by the Executive Engineer, NTR TGP Division No.1, Kadapa, dated 18.11.2025 wherein it is stated that earlier, the petitioner has submitted a bill for settlement of accounts vide Lr.No.JISL/LIMIP/2024-25/21, dated 03.02.2025 which was scrutinized and was processed for submission in CFMS portal. It is further stated that as CFMS portal is replaced by NIDHI portal for uploading work bills, transfer of data from CFMS portal to NIDHI portal requires time. However, the bill for releasing the withheld amount to the petitioner is under process and will be uploaded in NIDHI portal after obtaining necessary approvals. 6. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, and the directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of learned counsel on either side, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to release admitted amounts payable to the petitioner within a 5 VS,J W.P.No.22304 of 2025 period of four (04) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 7. 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, pending Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, shall stand closed. ______________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA 19.11.2025 Gss