APHC010435202025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] MONDAY,THE TWENTY SECOND DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 22142/2025 Between: 1. K V RAMANA REDDY, S/O SUBBA REDDY, AGE 49 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR, R/O. PLOT NO. 301, SRI SIRI AVENUE, MARUTHI CO-OP COLONY, PATAMATA, VIJAYAWADA-8, NTR (ERSTWHILE KRISHNA) DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, IRRIGATION AND CBMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATI,GUNTUR DISTRICT 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KRISHNA DISTRICT, MACHILIPATNAM CITY, COLLECTOR OFFICE, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 4. THE DIRECTOR OF WORKS AND ACCOUNTS, NIDHI BHAVAN, 1ST FLOOR, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, DRAINAGE DIVISION,IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT GUDIWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 2 VS,J W.P.No.22142 of 2025 6. THE PAY AND ACCOUNT OFFICER, THIRD FLOOR, RAMA MANDIR STREET, ARUNDALPET, GOVERNOR PET, VIJAYAWADA. ...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 a writ of mandamus any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents in withholding the payment an amount of 1) Rs.21,44,004/- 2) Rs. 17,59,430/- even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the work i.e., or Restoration of Irrigation System for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 0.000 to Km. 3.500 ,vide agreement No.24/2025-26, Dated 23-05-2025 and Restoration of Irrigation system for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 3.600 to Km. 5.900,vide agreement No. 10/2025-26, as the same is illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to consider for payments of 1) Rs.21,44,004/- 2) Rs. 17,59,430/- with interest @12 percent per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above-mentioned work forthwith and 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 to consider for payment of final Bill amounts 1) Rs.21,44,004/- 2) Rs.17,59,430/- with interest @12% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of works i.e., “Restoration of Irrigation System for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 0.000 to Km. 3.500 ,vide agreement No.24/2025-26, Dated: 23-05-2025 and “Restoration of Irrigation system for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 3.600 to Km. 5.900”, vide agreement No. 10/2025-26”, pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 3 VS,J W.P.No.22142 of 2025 1. SRAVAN KUMAR NAIDANA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 4 VS,J W.P.No.22142 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 a writ of mandamus any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents in withholding the payment an amount of 1) Rs.21,44,004/- 2) Rs. 17,59,430/- even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the work i.e., or Restoration of Irrigation System for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 0.000 to Km. 3.500 ,vide agreement No.24/2025-26, Dated 23-05-2025 and Restoration of Irrigation system for effective Water Regulation including Monitoring and Management of Palacodu Medium Drain from Km. 3.600 to Km. 5.900,vide agreement No. 10/2025-26, as the same is illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to consider for payments of 1) Rs.21,44,004/- 2) Rs. 17,59,430/- with interest @12 percent per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above- mentioned work forthwith and pass….” 2. The petitioner has been awarded the contract of (i) restoration of irrigation system for effective water regulation including monitoring and management of Palacodu medium drain from Km.0.000 to Km.3.500, (ii) restoration of irrigation system for effective water regulation including monitoring and management of Palacodu medium drain from Km.3.600 to K.5.900, by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract, as the payment of the amounts payable to the petitioner have not been made by 5 VS,J W.P.No.22142 of 2025 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, 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 Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation has furnished a copy of the letter addressed by the 5th respondent vide letter No.EE/DRG/GDV/AB/A3/Court Cases/1730M, dated 16.12.2025, wherein it is stated that the petitioner has completed the works as per the respective agreements and that the bills pertaining to the amounts payable to the petitioner [Rs.21,44,004/- + Rs.17,59,430/- = Rs.39,03,434/- ] will be uploaded shortly in NIDHI portal. 6. In view of fact that the amounts payable to the petitioner are admitted by the respondents, instead of keeping the writ petition pending, this writ petition is disposed of and the respondents are directed to pay the admitted 6 VS,J W.P.No.22142 of 2025 amounts payable to the petitioner, within a period of four (4) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to 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 Petition shall stand closed. ____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA 22.12.2025 Gss