APHC010196792024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] WEDNESDAY,THE TENTH DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 10302/2024 Between: 1. L SESHA REDDY, S/O.L.JAYA RAMI REDDY AGED 49 YEARS, R/O.PULIKALLU VILLAGE, PTM MANDAL,ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 2. R.KRISHNA MURTHY, S/O.R.ADINARAYANA AGED 54 YEARS, R/O. DOOR NO.2/239, SANKARAPURAM POST AND MANDAL, Y.S.R KADAPA DISTRICT,ANDHRA PRADESH. 3. S.M.MOULALI SAHEB, S/O.M.MAHABOOB PEERA AGED 45 YEARS, R/O.VEPURIKOTA VILLAGE, MULAKALA CHERUVU MANDAL,ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 4. P.RAMACHANDRA REDDY, S/O.P.JAGANADAM REDDY AGED 50 YEARS, R/O.MIDDINAYANIPALLI VILLAGE, PEDDAMANDYAM MANDAL,ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 5. G.TIRUPATI BABU NAIDU, S/O.G.CHINNA KONDAIAH, AGED 51 YEARS, R/O.MARRIMAKULAPALLE VILLAGE, THAMBALLAPALLE MANDAL,ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 6. K.KIRAN KUMAR, S/O.K.BALA SUBBAIAH, AGED 44 YEARS, R/O.RENUMAKULAPALLE VILLAGE, THAMBALLAPALLE MANDAL,ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES 2 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 DEPARTMENT A.P.SECRETAIRAT, VELAGAPUDI AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 2. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, CHITTOOR, AP 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IRRIGATION CIRCL OFFICE, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT M.I. DIVISION, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH 6. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR 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 to issue a writ. order or direction more particularly one in the nature of a writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the amount of Rs.67,23,034/- in respect of Neeru- Pragathi Programme. vide Agreement Nos.ljAgreement No.887DN /2018-19 Dt.31-12- 2018 2)Agreement No.388DN/2018-19 Dt.31-12-2018 3)Agreement No195DN/2018-19 Dt.2-09-2018 4)Agreement No.350DN/2017-18 Dt.19-06- 2017 5)Agreement NO.623DN/2017-18 Dt.27-10-2017 6)Agreement No.452/2017- 18 Dt.29-08-2017 7)Agreement No.453/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017 8)Agreement No.56DN/2017-18 Dt,19-05-2017 9)Agreement NO.275DN/2018-19 Dt.27-10-2018 10)Agreement No.233DN/ 2018-19 Dt.06- 10-2018 ll)Agreement No.219DN/2018-19 Dt.06-10-2018 12)Agreement No.207DN/2018-19 Dt.20-09-2018 andNO.347DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-06- 201713)Agreement 14)Agreement No.351DN/2017-18 Dt.19-06-2017 as illegal, and arbitrary, violation of Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct the respondents to release the total amount of Rs.67,23,034/- to the petitioners for the above said works of Neeru-Pragathi Programme, and pay the amount along with interest forthwith and pass such 3 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 IA NO: 1 OF 2024 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 to direct the respondents to release total amount of Rs.67,23,034/- in respect of <Neeru-Pragathi= Programme. vide Agreement Nos. IjAgreement No.887DN/2018-19 Dt.31-12- 2018 2)Agreement NO.388DN/2018-19 Dt.31- 12-2018 3)Agreement No. 195DN/2018-19Dt.20.09.2018 4)Agreement NO.350DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-06-2017 5)Agreement No.623DN/ 2017-18 Dt.27- 10-2017 6)Agreement No.452/2017-18 Dt.29-08- 2017 7)Agreement No. 453/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017 8)Agreement NO.56DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-05-2017 9)Agreement No.275DN/2018-19 Dt.27-10-2018 10)Agreement No.233DN/2018-19 Dt.06-10- 2018 1 IjAgreement NO.219DN/2018-19 Dt.06- 10-2018 12)Agreement No.207DN/2018-19 Dt.20-09-2018 13)Agreement NO.347DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-06-2017 and 14)Agreement No.351DN /2017-18 Dt. 19-06-2017 to the petitioners for the above said works under <Neeru- Pragathi= Programme, and pay the amount along with interest forthwith through proper channel pending disposal of the above writ petition and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. D KODANDARAMI REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING 2. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD (AP) The Court made the following: 4 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 ORDER: The present writ petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: <…to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of a writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the amount of Rs.67,23,034/- in respect of <Neeru-Pragathi= Programme. vide Agreement Nos. l) Agreement No.387DN /2018-19 Dt.31-12-2018 2)Agreement No.388DN/2018-19 Dt.31-12-2018 3)Agreement No195DN/2018- 19 Dt.2-09-2018 4)Agreement No.350DN/2017-18 Dt.19-06- 2017 5)Agreement No.623DN/2017-18 Dt.27-10-2017 6)Agreement No.452/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017 7)Agreement No.453/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017 8)Agreement No.56DN/2017-18 Dt.19-05-2017 9)Agreement No.275DN/ 2018-19 Dt.27-10-2018 10)Agreement No.233DN/ 2018-19 Dt.06-10-2018 ll)Agreement No.219DN/2018-19 Dt.06-10-2018 12)Agreement No.207DN/ 2018-19 Dt.20-09-2018 13) Agreement No.347DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-06-2017 and 14)Agreement No.351DN/2017-18 Dt.19-06- 2017 as illegal, and arbitrary, violation of Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct the respondents to release the total amount of Rs.67,23,034/- to the petitioners for the above said works of Neeru-Pragathi Programme, and pay the amount along with interest forthwith….= 2. The petitioner had been awarded the contract of in respect of <Neeru- Pragathi= Programme. vide Agreement Nos. l) Agreement No.387DN /2018- 19 Dt.31-12-2018, 2)Agreement No.388DN/2018-19 Dt.31-12-2018, 3)Agreement No.195DN/2018-19 Dt.2-09-2018, 4)Agreement No.350DN /2017-18 Dt.19-06-2017, 5)Agreement No.623DN/2017-18 Dt.27-10-2017, 6)Agreement No.452/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017, 7)Agreement No.453/2017-18 Dt.29-08-2017, 8)Agreement No.56DN/2017-18 Dt.19-05-2017, 9)Agreement No.275DN/ 2018-19 Dt.27-10-2018, 10)Agreement No.233DN/ 2018-19 5 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 Dt.06-10-2018, ll)Agreement No.219DN/2018-19 Dt.06-10-2018, 12)Agreement No.207DN/ 2018-19 Dt.20-09-2018, 13) Agreement No.347DN/2017-18 Dt. 19-06-2017 and 14)Agreement No.351DN/2017-18 Dt.19-06-2017 for the respective years for final bills amount of Rs.67,23,034/- by the respondents. After execution of the aforementioned contract works, the respondents issued thirteen quality control certificates i.e., 1. dated 04.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.99,949/-, 2. for a sum of Rs.68,363/-, 3. dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.7,92,425/-, 4. dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.1,83,478/-, 5. Dated 03.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.7,20,792/-, 6. for a sum of Rs.7,06,375/-, 7. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,65,245/-, 8. Dated 02.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.5,75,727/-, 9. for a sum of Rs.6,93,272/-, 10. for a sum of Rs.4,25,132/-, 11. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,22,771/-, 12. Dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.2,70,872/-, and 13. for a sum of Rs.2,87,129/-. 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 amount, 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 6 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 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. Learned Assistant Government Pleader on oral instructions, submits that the admitted amount payable to the petitioner as per the quality control certificates i.e., 1. dated 04.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.99,949/-, 2. for a sum of Rs.68,363/-, 3. dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.7,92,425/-, 4. dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.1,83,478/-, 5. Dated 03.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.7,20,792/-, 6. for a sum of Rs.7,06,375/-, 7. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,65,245/-, 8. Dated 02.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.5,75,727/-, 9. for a sum of Rs.6,93,272/-, 10. for a sum of Rs.4,25,132/-, 11. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,22,771/-, 12. Dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.2,70,872/-, and 13. for a sum of Rs.2,87,129/-. He further submits 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. 6. Though the petitioner claims to be entitled to Rs.67,23,034/-, the learned counsel for the petitioner has admitted that the writ petition may be disposed of based on the quality control certificates issued by the respondents. 7. 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 for the petitioner, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to verify and pay the admitted amounts to the petitioner in accordance with the quality control certificates i.e., 1. dated 04.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.99,949/-, 2. for a sum of Rs.68,363/-, 3. dated 28.12.2018 for a sum 7 VS,J W.P.No.10302 of 2024 of Rs.7,92,425/-, 4. dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.1,83,478/-, 5. Dated 03.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.7,20,792/-, 6. for a sum of Rs.7,06,375/-, 7. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,65,245/-, 8. Dated 02.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.5,75,727/-, 9. for a sum of Rs.6,93,272/-, 10. for a sum of Rs.4,25,132/-, 11. Dated 28.12.2018 for a sum of Rs.8,22,771/-, 12. Dated 06.03.2019 for a sum of Rs.2,70,872/-, and 13. for a sum of Rs.2,87,129/- issued by the respondents, within a period of five (05) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 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. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. ______________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date: 10.12.2025 KGR