APHC010393162025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] MONDAY,THE EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 20149/2025 Between: 1. CNR PROJECTS, D.NO. 12-60-32-4, OPPOSITE ARUNA LODGE, BC ROAD, NEW GAJUWAKA, VISAKHAPATNAM - 530026, REP. BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER, CH.V.S.NAIDU, S/O. NARASIMHA MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/O. D.NO-I0/248-A-50-5A,SAI NIALAYAM, GVR RESIDENCY, TEACHERS COLONY, GUDIVADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, WORKS AND ACCOUNTS, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 2 VS,J W.P.NO.20149 OF 2025 4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 5. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION CIRCLE VIJAYAWADA NTR DISTRICT EARLIER KRISHNA DISTRICT. 6. THE COMMISSIONER, CADA AND SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 7. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, CADA,VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH 8. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KRISHNA EASTERN DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA. 9. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, QUALITY CONTROL SUB- DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA 10. THE DIVISIONAL ACCOUNTS OFFICER, KRISHNA EASTERN DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA. 11. DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION SUB- DIVISION, GUDIVADA. 12. DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, QUALITY CONTROL SUB-DIVISION. 13. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, LOWER GUDIVADA SECTION, GUDIVADA - 521301. 14. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, JANNAPADU SECTION, GUDIVADA - 521301. 15. THE ASST EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, WATER RESOUREES DEPARTMENT, QUALITY CONTROL SEETION, GUDIVADA. 3 VS,J W.P.NO.20149 OF 2025 ...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 declaring the action of the respondent authorities in not releasing an amount of Rs.40,69,014.65/- (1. Rs.l7,21,137.20/-for Agreement No. 41/2023-24, dt. 24-07-2023 2.Rs.23,47,877.45/- for Agreement No. 2/2024-25, dt. 12.07.2024 to the petitioner for the execution of works respectively as arbitrary, illegal, contrary to Law and against the Principles of Natural Justice and against the Norms of the Public Policy and to issue consequential direction directing the respondent authorities to forthwith release the amount of Rs.40,69,014.65/-to the petitioner with an interest at 24PERCENT per annum 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 respondent authorities to forthwith release an amount of Rs.40,69,014.65/- [1. Rs.l7,21,137.20/-for Agreement No. 41/2023-24,dt.24-07-2023; and 2.Rs.23,47,877.45/- for Agreement No. 2/2024-25, dt. 12.07.2024] to the petitioner for the execution of the respective works, pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. PHANI VISWANATH CHALLA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING 4 VS,J W.P.NO.20149 OF 2025 The Court made the following 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 declaring the action of the respondent authorities in not releasing an amount of Rs.40,69,014.65/- (1. Rs.l7,21,137.20/- for Agreement No. 41/2023-24, dt. 24-07-2023 2. Rs.23,47,877.45/- for Agreement No. 2/2024-25, dt. 12.07.2024) to the petitioner for the execution of works respectively as arbitrary, illegal, contrary to Law and against the Principles of Natural Justice and against the Norms of the Public Policy and to issue consequential direction directing the respondent authorities to forthwith release the amount of Rs.40,69,014.65/-to the petitioner with an interest at 24% per annum...” 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 to a tune of Rs.19,34,264/- and Rs.20,39,370/- 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 5 VS,J W.P.NO.20149 OF 2025 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 placed 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 certificates filed by the petitioner to a tune of Rs.19,34,264/- and Rs.20,39,370/-. 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 dated 28.12.2024 and 6 VS,J W.P.NO.20149 OF 2025 24.07.2025 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. 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. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date :08.12.2025 LSP