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High Court of Andhra Pradesh · body

2025 DAILYLAW 54260 (AP)

M/s Southern Survey Consultants, v. The State of Andhra Pradesh,

WP/4235/2025 · 2025-10-06

V Sujatha

body2025

Judgment text

Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.

APHC010078802025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 4235 OF 2025 Between: M/s Southern Survey Consultants, Represented by its Managing Partner C. Suma Sekhar, S/o C.Lokanadham, Aged about 52 Years, R/o Plot No. 23, Lie Colony, Edulagunta, Thottambedu Village, Thottambedu Mandala, Tirupati District.-517640. ...Petitioner AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Irrigation Department,, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh - 522237. 2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary Government, Department of Finance and Planning Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh - 522237 3. The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh - 4. The Superintending Engineer, SRBC Circle No.1, Nandyal, Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh -513501. 5. The Executive Engineer, SRBC Division No.4, Gorakallu@Nandyal Nandyala District, Andhra Pradesh 6. The Assistant Pay and Accounts Officer, Works Accounts Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh -518501. to Secretariat, Kurnool SRBC Colony, Nandyal, ...Respondents 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 an order, writ or direction more particularly in the nature of of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents against the petitioner for nonpayment of the bill for work done in writ Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kurnool District for Rs 79,66,675" and the 5th respondent also certified and found satisfactory after detail measurement and alteration upto date and the items of the works specified in the bill which was recorded in the M Book No. 506 GKL IV from page I to 21 and in M Book number 507 from page No. 28 and certified and passed the gross amount of Rs 87,73,631/- ( Rupees Eighty Seven Lakhs Seventy Three Thousand Six Hundred and Thirty One Only)under head of account 4700-01-133-11-27-530-531VN i illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents pay the net bill amount of Rs 79,66,675/- ( Rupees Seventy Nine Lakhs Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Only) to the petitioner for work done in Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kurnool District along with interest in the interest of equity justice IS as to near lA 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 direct the respondents to pay the net bill amount of Rs 79,66,675/- ( Rupees Seventy Nine Lakhs Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Only) to the petitioner for work done in “ Conducting for Operations for formation Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kurnool District’ along with interest in the interestpf equity justice Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI D KISHORE KUMAR to of Counsel for the Respondents No.1, 3, 4, 5: GP FOR IRRl AND CAD Counsel for the Respondents No.2, 6: GP FOR FINANCE AND PLANNING The Court made the following 1 APHC010078802025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] TUESDAY,THE SEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 4235/2025 Between: 1.M/S SOUTHERN SURVEY CONSULTANTS,, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER C. SUMA SEKHAR, S/0 C.LOKANADHAM, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/0 PLOT NO. 23, LIE COLONY, EDULAGUNTA, THOTTAMBEDU VILLAGE, THOTTAMBEDU MANDALA, TIRUPATI DISTRICT.-517640. ...PETITIONER AND 1.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINEIPAL SECRETARY TO IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, AMARAVATHI, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522237. VELAGAPUDI 2.THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522237 RESOURCES WATER DEPARTMENT,KUMOOL KUMOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 3.THE CHIEF ENGINEER 4.THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, SRBC CIRCLE NO.L, SRBC COLONY, NANDYAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518501. 2 5.THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, GORAKALLU@NANDYAL PRADESH 6.THE ASSISTANT PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, ACCOUNTS NANDYAL, NANQYAL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 518501. SRBC DIVISION N0.4, NANDYALA DISTRICT, ANDHRA WORKS ...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 order, writ or direction more particularly in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents against the petitioner for nonpayment of the bill for work done in Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kumool District for Rs 79,66,675 and the 5th respondent also certified and found satisfactory after detail measurement and alteration upto date and the items of the works specified in the bill which was recorded in the MBook No. 506 GKL IV from page I to 21 and in M Book number 507 from page No. 28 and certified and passed the gross amount of Rs 87,73,631/- ( Rupees Eighty Seven Lakhs Seventy Three Thousand Six Hundred Thirty One Only)under head of account 4700-01-133-11-27-530-531VN i illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents to pay the net bill amount of Rs 79,66,675/- ( Rupees Seventy Nine Lakhs Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Only) to the petitioner for work done in Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kumool District along with interest in the interest of equity, justice and IS as near lA 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 pay the net bill amount of Rs 79,66,675/- ( Rupees Seventy Nine Lakhs Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Only) to the petitioner for work done in “ Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kumool District along with interest in the interest of equity, justice Counsel for the Petitioner: 3 1.DKISH0RE KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2.GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: r 4 ORDER: The present Writ Petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief;- “....to issue an order, writ or direction more particularly in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents against the petitioner for nonpayment of the bill for work done in Conducting for Operations for formation of Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kumool District for Rs 79,66,675 and the 5th respondent also certified and found satisfactory after detail measurement and alteration upto date and items of the works specified in the bill which was recorded in the MBook No. 506 GKL IV from page I to 21 and in M Book number 507 from No. 28 and certified and passed the gross amount of Rs 87,73,631/- the page ( Rupees Eighty Seven Lakhs Seventy Three Thousand S/x Hundred and Thirty One Onlyjunder head of account 4700-01-133-11-27-530-531VN is unconstitutional and consequently direct the as illegal, arbitrary, respondents to pay the net bill amount of Rs 79,66,675/- ( Rupees Seventy Nine Lakhs Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Conducting for Operations for Only) to the petitioner for work done in formation of Orvakal Reservoir near Sakunala Village, Orvakal Mandal, Kumool District along with interest in the interest of equity, justice .... 2. The petitioner had been awarded the contract work of conducting operations for formation of Orvakal reservoir near Sakunala village, Orvakal mandal, Kumool District by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract, the respondents’ also issued quality control certificate dated 19.12.2023 to a tune of Rs.79,32,005/-. 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. 5 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. On the other hand, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation, relying on the counter affidavit of the 5^^ respondent has stated that the 5. Assistant Pay and Accounts Officer, Works Accounts, Nandyal has scrutinized the bill as per the latest guidelines and that a bill was passed with a net amount payable to an extent of Rs.79,66,675/- under CFMS Bill No.2023- 2085629 and that after migration to CFMS bill No.2024-167210, the status of the bill in CFMS is displayed as “Bill returned to DDO as per Art.39&50 of AP Financial Code, Vol I”. He further submitted that soon after release of the budget by the Government, the bills will be paid to the petitioner. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, and the directions of 6. 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 certificate dated 19.12.2023 issued by the respondents within a 6 period of six (06) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 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. 7. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications, pending, if any, shall also stand closed. Sd/- SRI T.SRINIVASA RAO assistant registrar //TRUE COPY// To, SECTION OFFICER 1. The Principal Secretary, State of Andhra Pradesh Department, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh 2. The Principal Secretary, State Irrigation - 522237. of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Finance and Planning, Secretariat,, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh - 522237 3. The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, District, Andhra Pradesh - 4. The Kurnool, Kurnool Superintending Engineer, SRBC Circle No.1, SRBC Colony, Nandyal, Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh -518501. 5. The Executive Engineer, SRBC Division No.4, Gorakallu@Nandyal Nandyala District, Andhra Pradesh 6. The Assistant Pay and. Accounts Officer, Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh -518501. 7. One CC to SRI D KISHORE KUMAR Advocate 8. Two CCs to GP FOR IRRI AND CAD [OUT] Works Accounts Nandyal, [OPUC] High Court of Andhra Pradesh 9. Two CCs to GP FOR FINANCE AND Pradesh [OUT] 10. Two CD Copies PLANNING High Court of Andhra gsg HIGH COURT DATED:07/10/2025 ORDER WP NO. 4235 OF 2025 17 OCT 2025 ; ^S^n-entSec o m .«o DISPOSING THE WP WITHOUT COSTS