APHC010505822025 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: 26925/2025 Between: 1. MANNE KOTESWARA RAO, S/O. PITCHAIAH, AGED 55 YEARS, OCC- CONTRACTOR R/O. D.NO.403, KANCHANA GANGA, NARA CHANDRA BABU NAIDU COLONY, BENZ CIRCLE, PATAMATA KANNA NAGAR, 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 STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR IRRIGATION WING, THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR (IRRIGATION WING) KRISHNA DISTRICT, MACHILIPATNAM. 2 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION CIRCLE, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, KRISHNA CENTRAL DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT. 6. THE PAY AND ACCOUNT OFFICER, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. 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 inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill amount worth of Rs. 25,65,204/- , 1) Rs.6,66,106/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42086, its Agreement No.08/2024- 25, dated 22.07.2024, and its M. Book No. 10029, with interest of execution of completion of OandM works OandM such as removal of weed growth on Bandar Canal Channel from Km. 35.500 to Km. 45.500 for the year 2024-2025, 2) Rs.4,00,666/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42088, its Agreement No.9/2024-25, and its M. Book No. 10027, with interest of execution of completion of OandM works O andM Removal of weed growth on branch channels of Bheemandhi Channel for the year 2024-2025, 3) Rs.7,13,465/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42085, its Agreement No. 10/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, and its . Book No. 9290, with interest of execution of completion of OandM works OandM removal of weed growth on Bheemanadi channel from Km. 0.00 to Km. 22.400 for the year 2024-2025, 4) Rs.7,84,967/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42087, its Agreement No. 11/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, and its M. Book No. 8140, with interest of 3 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 execution of completion of OandM works OandM removal of weed growth on Meduru Channel and its branch channels for the year 2024-2025, under Water Resources 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 bills of total amount worth of Rs. 25,65,204/- for execution of completion of Water Resources 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. 25,65,204/-, 1) Rs.6,66,106/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42086, its Agreement No.08/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, 2) Rs.4,00,666/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42088, its Agreement No.9/2024- 25, 3) Rs.7,13,465/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42085, its Agreement No. 10/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, 4) Rs.7,84,967/- in respect of irrigation OandM work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42087, its Agreement No. 11/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, under Water Resources Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith, pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. ANNAMNEEDI BALAKRISHNA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 4 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 5 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 26925/2025 ORDER:- This writ petition is 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 declare the inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill amount worth of Rs.25,65,204/-, 1) Rs.6,66,106/- in respect of irrigation O&M work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42086, its Agreement No.08/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, and its M. Book No.10029, with interest of execution of completion of O&M works <O&M such as removal of weed growth on Bandar Canal Channel from Km. 35.500 to Km. 45.500 for the year 2024-2025, 2) Rs.4,00,666/- in respect of irrigation O&M work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42088, its Agreement No.9/2024-25, and its M. Book No.10027, with interest of execution of completion of O&M works <O&M Removal of weed growth on branch channels of Bheemandhi Channel for the year 2024-2025, 3) Rs.7,13,465/- in respect of irrigation O&M work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42085, its Agreement No.10/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, and its M.Book No.9290, with interest of execution of completion of O&M works <O&M removal of weed growth on Bheemanadi channel from Km. 0.00 to Km. 22.400 for the year 2024-2025, 4) Rs.7,84,967/- in respect of irrigation O&M work vide Quality Control Certificate No.42087, its Agreement No. 11/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, and its M. Book No. 8140, with interest of execution of completion of O&M works <O&M removal of weed growth on Meduru Channel and its branch channels for the year 2024-2025, under Water Resources 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 bills of total amount worth of Rs.25,65,204/- for execution 6 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 of completion of Water Resources 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 four quality control certificates dated 03.09.2025 to a tune of Rs.6,66,106.62/-, Rs.4,00,666.97/-, Rs.7,13,465.26/- and Rs.7,84,967.03/- respectively. 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. 7 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 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 four quality control certificates dated 03.09.2025 filed by the petitioner to a tune of Rs.6,66,106.62/-, Rs.4,00,666.97/-, Rs.7,13,465.26/- and Rs.7,84,967.03/- respectively. 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 four quality control certificates dated 03.09.2025 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. 8 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 8. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date :19.11.2025 JLV 9 VS,J W.P.NO.26925 OF 2025 141 THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 26925/2025 Dt.19.11.2025 JLV