APHC010382902025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH WEDNESDAY,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 19706/2025 Between: 1. SANKU VEERA VENKATA RAMBABU, S/O. SANKU VENKATA SATYANARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 27 NEAR RAYALAM BRIDGE, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPLE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR IRRIGATION WING, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 4. THE ENGINEER INCHIEF, MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, IRRIGATION BHAVAN, VIJAYAW 5. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION CIRCLE, ELURU, ELURU DISTRICT. IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 19706/2025 SANKU VEERA VENKATA RAMBABU, S/O. SANKU VENKATA SATYANARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 27 NEAR RAYALAM BRIDGE, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI ...PETITIONER AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPLE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR IRRIGATION WING, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. THE ENGINEER INCHIEF, MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, IRRIGATION BHAVAN, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION CIRCLE, ELURU, ELURU IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH [3333] WEDNESDAY,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA SANKU VEERA VENKATA RAMBABU, S/O. SANKU VENKATA SATYANARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/O. D.NO. 27-03-102, NEAR RAYALAM BRIDGE, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI ...PETITIONER THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPLE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR IRRIGATION WING, BHIMAVARAM, THE ENGINEER INCHIEF, MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, ADA, NTR DISTRICT. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION CIRCLE, ELURU, ELURU 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER, RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GODAVARI WESTERN DIVISION, NIDADAVOLE, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 7. THE COMMISSIONER, COMMAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CAD) WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. 8. THE DIRECTOR OF WORKS AND ACCOUNTOFFICER, NIDHI BHAVAN, MANGALAGIRI,GUNTUR DISTRICT. 9. THE PAY AND ACCOUNT OFFICER, DOWILESWARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. ANNAMNEEDI BALAKRISHNA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 19706 OF 2025 ORDER:- This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “….to issue order or orders, direction or directions, Writ or Writs particularly one in the nature Writ of Mandamous declare the inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill amount worth of Rs.31,73,106 (1) Amount of Rs.11,80,210/-, vide Agreement No.110/2024-25 for which the work “Restoration of irrigation system for effective water regulation including Monitoring and Management of G and V canal from km 63.193 to 65.770 (2) Amount Rs 5,75,129/-, vide its Agreement No.61/2024-25 for which the work O & M to AM for weed free in G and V canal from km 59.028 to 65.770 and its channels in the jurisdiction of Irrigation section Kalipatnam during the year 2024-25; (3) Amount of Rs.3,29,417/- vide Agreement No.48/202425 for which the work O and M to removal of weed obstructions at bridge locations across Yanamadurru drain bet km 42.5000 to 45.000 during the year 2024-25 in Irrigation section Bhimavaram; (4) Amount of Rs.5,84,145/- vide Agreement No.60/202425 for which the work O and M to annual maintenance of weed free in G and V canal from km 48.667 to 59.028 in the jurisdiction of Irrigation section Bhimavaram during the year 2024-25; (5) Amount of Rs.5,04,205/- vide Agreement No.59/2024-25, for which the work O & M to AM for weed free for branch channel of Attili Canal above Godicherla Lock in Irrigation section Mandapaka for the year 2024-25 with interest of execution and completion of O and M works 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 Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequentially to direct the respondents releasing the final bills of total amount worth of Rs.31,73,106/- for execution of completion of O and M works under Irrigation Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith …” 2. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract, the respondents also issued Quality Control Certificates dated 03.09.2025 to a tune of Rs. 5,84,145/-; dated 03.09.2025 to a tune of Rs. 3,29,417/-; dated 17.09.2025 to a tune of Rs. 11,80,210/- and dated 12.12.2025 to a tune of Rs. 13,89,686/-. As the payment of the said amounts 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- 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 Government Pleader 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 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 filed by the petitioner to a tune of Rs.31,73,106/-. 6. 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 certificates cited supra issued by the respondents within a 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, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date :31.12.2025 KK