APHC010003482023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] TUESDAY,THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 3642/2023 Between: 1. B.ANURADHA, , W/O.B.BHASKAR REDDY, AGE 57 YEARS, R/O,D.NO.501,SRI RAMA APARTMENT'S VASANTHAPETA,PRODDATUR VILLAGE 86 MANDAL, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 2. V.V.RAMANJULA REDDY, S/O.V.NAGA SUBBA REDDY AGE 39 YEARS, R/O,D.NO.4/ 329, RAMACHANDRA NAGAR KONDAPURAM VILLAGE 8S MANDAL, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT A.P.SECRETAIRAT, VELAGAPUDI AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 2. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF, MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMEIIT GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. -2- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT, KADAPA, AP 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IRRIGATION CIRCL OFFICE, KADAPA, YSR KADAPA DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT M.I. DIVISION, KADAPA, YSR KADAPA 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 topleased 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 EMD plus SFD Deposit Amounts of Rs. 8,34,714/- in respect of Neeru-Chettu Grant vide Agreement Nos.1)Agreement No. 2017/2017-18 Dt.12-02-2018 2)Agreement No. 2018/2017-18 dt.12-02-2018 3) Agreement No. 2019/2017-18 dt.12-02 2018 4) Agreement No.985/2017-18 Dt.15-06-2017 5)Agreement No.2229/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018, 6)Agreement No.2228/2017-18 Dt.13-03- 2018 7)Agreement No.2227/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018 8)Agreement No.778/2017-18 dt.02-06-2017 9)Agreement No.441/2017-18 Dt.12-02- 2018 1O)Agreement No.777/2017-18 Dt.02-06-2017, 11)Agreement No.317/2017-18 Dt.18-05-2017, 12)Agreement No.318/2017-18 Dt.18-05- 2017, 13) Agreement No. 439/2017-18 dt.22-05-2018, 14) Agreement No.1011/2017-18 dt.20-06-2017 15)Agreement No.440/2017-18 Dt.22-05- 2017 16)Agreement No.796/2018-19 -3- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 Dt.10-12-2018, 17)Agreement No.797/2018-19 Dt.10-12-2018 18)Agreement No.798/2018-19 Dt.10-12- 2018, 19)Agreement No.2020/2017-18 Dt.12-02-2018 20)Agreement No.2356/2017- 18 Dt.29-03-2018, 21)Agreement No.2358/2017-18 Dt.29- 03- 2018 23)Agreement No.2357/2017-18 dt.29-03-2018 24)Agreement No.776/2017-18 Dt.06-06-2018 and 25)Agreement No.2355/2017-18 Dt.29-03-2018 as illegal, arbitrary, and violation of Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct the respondents to release the EMD SFD Deposit Amounts of Rs. 8,34,714/- to the petitioners for the above said works of neeru-chettu grant and pay the amount along with interest forthwith and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2023 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 release the EMD + SFD Deposit Amounts of Rs.8,34,714/- in respect of Neeru-Chettu Grant vide Agreement Nos.1)Agreement No. 2017/2017-18 Dt.12-02-2018 2)Agreement No. 2018/2017-18 dt.12-02-2018 3) Agreement No. 2019/2017-18 dt.12-02- 2018 4) Agreement No.985/2017-18 Dt.15-06-2017 5)Agreement No.2229/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018, 6)Agreement No.2228/2017-18 Dt.13-03- 2018 7)Agreement No.2227/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018 8)Agreement No.778/2017-18 dt.02-06-2017 9)Agreement No.441/20I7-18 Dt.12-02- 2018 1O)Agreement No.777/2017-18 Dt.02-06-2017, 11)Agreement No.317/2017-18 Dt.18-05-2017, 12)Agreement No.318/2017-18 Dt.18-05- 2017, 13) Agreement No. 439/2017-18 dt.22-05-2018, 14) Agreement No. 1011/2017-18 dt.20-06-2017 15)Agreement No.440/2017-18 Dt.22-05- 2017 16)Agreement No.796/2018-19 Dt.10-12-2018, 17)Agreement No.797/2018-19 Dt.10-12-2018 18)Agreement No.798/2018-19 Dt.10-12- 2018, 19)Agreement No.2020/2017-18 Dt.12-02-2018 20)Agreement No.2356/2017- 18 Dt.29-03-2018, 21)Agreement No 2358/2017-18 Dt.29- 03- 2018 22)Agreement No.259/2017-18 Dt.29-03-2018 -4- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 23)Agreement No.2357/2017-18 dt.29-03-2018 24)Agreement No.776/2017-18 Dt.06-06- 2018 and 25)Agreement No.2355/2017-18 Dt.29-03-2018 through proper channel pending disposal of the above writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. D KODANDARAMI REDDY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING 2. GP FOR IRRIGATION COMM AREA DEV The Court made the following: -5- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 THE HON’BLE SMT. JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION No.3642 OF 2023 ORDER:- This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…this Hon'ble 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 EMD + SFD Deposit Amounts of Rs.8,34,714/-in respect of Neeru-Chettu Grant vide Agreement Nos.1) Agreement No. 2017/2017-18 Dt.12-02-2018; 2) Agreement No.2018/2017-18 dt.12-02-2018; 3) Agreement No. 2019/2017-18 dt.12-02-2018; 4)Agreement No.985/2017-18 Dt.15-06-2017; 5)Agreement No.2229/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018; 6)Agreement No.2228/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018; 7)Agreement No.2227/2017-18 Dt.13-03-2018; 8) Agreement No.778/2017-18 dt.02-06-2017; 9) Agreement No.441/2017-18 Dt.12-02- 2018; 10)Agreement No.777/2017-18 Dt.02-06- 2017; 11) Agreement No.317/2017-18 Dt.18-05- 2017; 12)Agreement No.318/2017-18, Dt.18-05- 2017; 13)Agreement No. 439/2017-18 dt.22-05- 2018; 14) Agreement No.1011/2017-18 dt.20-06- 2017; 15) Agreement No.440/2017-18 Dt.22-05- 2017; 16)Agreement No.796/2018-19 Dt.10-12- 2018; 17)Agreement No.797/2018-19 Dt.10-12- 2018; 18) Agreement No.798/2018-19, Dt.10-12- 2018; 19)Agreement No.2020/2017-18 Dt.12-02- 2018; 20) Agreement No.2356/2017-18 Dt.29-03- 2018; 21) Agreement No.2358/2017-18 Dt.29-03- -6- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 2018; 22) Agreement No.259/2017-18 Dt.29-03- 2018; 23)Agreement No.2357/2017-18 dt.29-03- 2018; 24) Agreement No.776/2017-18 Dt.06-06- 2018 and 25)Agreement No.2355/2017-18 Dt.29- 03-2018 as illegal, arbitrary, and violation of Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct the respondents to release the EMD + SFD Deposit Amounts of Rs. 8,34,714/- to the petitioners for the above said works of neeru-chettu grant and pay the amount along with interest forthwith and pass such other order …” 2. The petitioner had been awarded the contract works by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract works, the progress of the work was recorded in M-Books and thereafter issued the respective quality control certificates with respect to the completion of the said works. Upon which, the petitioner submitted respective final bills and the same were admitted and paid by the respondents. However, the respondents failed to pay EMD and FSD amounts an amount of Rs.8,34,714/-. 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 money, no payment is being made. The -7- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 petitioner submits 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 for irrigation has furnished a copy of the written instructions of the Executive Engineer, W.R.D., M.I. Division, Kadapa, vide Lr.No.DB/TO/Court Cases/ 882M, dt.19.12.2025, wherein it is stated that out of 25 Neeru Chettu bills for payment of EMD & FSD amounts, 23 bills were already paid and in remaining two bills, one bill is pending ‘for want of fund clearance’ and the other bill is ‘under process’. The details of the bills, which were cleared and awaiting for clearance, are extracted hereunder: "1. 2025-9132406 - Paid 2. 2025-9132399 - Paid 3. 2025-9168539 - Waiting for fund clearance 4. 2025-9134385 - Paid 5. 2025-9132401 - Paid 6. 2025-9134387 - Paid -8- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 7. 2025-9134381 - Paid 8. 2023-519357 - Paid 9. 2023-518235 - Paid 10. 2023-511194 - Paid 11. 2023-519033 - Paid 12. 2023-518969 - Paid 13. 2023-408646 - Paid 14. Bill Uploading is Under Process 15. 2023-519302 - Paid 16. 2024-1507139 - Paid 17. 2023-1044131 - Paid. 18. 2023-1078414 - Paid 19. 2025-9132411 - Paid 20. 2025-9132464 - Paid 21. 2025-9132429 - Paid 22. 2025-9132413 - paid 23. 2025-132407 - Paid 24. 2025-9132466-Paid 25. 2025-9132412 – Paid” 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 and the learned Government Pleader for irrigation, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent Nos.2 to 6 to release the amount due payable to the petitioner within a period of two (02) 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 -9- W.P.No.3642 OF 2023 Date of order:25.11.2025 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 Dt.25.11.2025 BV