::1:: APHC010000452025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] THURSDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 288/2025 Between: 1. N. RAJENDRA PRASAD, S/O N. BALAMUKUNDA PRASAD, AGED 63 YEARS R/O H.NO.21-2-15/41,7TH ROAD, SKD COLONY, ADONI, KURNOOL DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT FINNANCE DEPARTMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR PANCHYAT RAJ WING, KURNOOL, AT KURNOOL DISTRICT ::2:: 4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR PANCHYAT RAJ WING, KURNOOL, AT KURNOOL DISTRICT. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION ADONI, KURNOOL DISTRICT. 6. KATRIKI GRAMA PANCHAYAT, KATRIKI VILLAGE, KOWTHALAM (M), KURNOOL DISTRICT. 7. MANDAL ENGINEER OFFICER, MPP, KOWTHALAM (M), KURNOOL 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 an appropriate Writ, direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Order or Mandamus declare the inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill amount worth of Rs.4,96,084/- in M.Book No. 6018 B vide Agreement.No. 181/2023-24, dated 18.01.2024, for which the name of work was Providing CC Road from Maremma Gudi to Water @ Katriki (V) Kowthalam (M), with interest of execution of Tank completion of GGMP Work under PRI department as per agreement, to the petitioner till today and causing heavy loss with interest even though total work was completed as per the agreement as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution ::3:: of India and consequentially to direct the respondents releasing the final bills of total amount worth of Rs.4,96,084/- for execution of completion of GGMP Work under PRI Department as per agreement, to the petitioner forthwith, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. KOMMA VIJAYA RAJ KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING ::4:: HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA W.P.No.288 of 2025 This Court made the following ORDER: The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) under the subject scheme in Kurnool District. After execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.4,96,084/- as per the sanctioned orders. 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. 2. It is the contention of the petitioner that even though the respondents admitted that the petitioner is entitled for payment of Rs.4,24,958/- 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. 3. 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 ::5:: non-payment of dues is arbitrary and that such dues need to be cleared by the respondents at the earliest. 4. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader placed on record written instructions submitted by the Executive Engineer, PRI Division, Adoni, dated 08.10.2025, wherein, it is admitted that the petitioner is entitled for an amount of Rs.4,24,958/-. It is further stated that uploading of bills to the PAO is under progress. Soon after the bills were uploaded, the bill amount entitled by the petitioner will be paid to the petitioner. 5. 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 of Rs.4,24,958/- to the petitioner. 6. As far as interest component is concerned, if there is any subsisting clause in the agreement/work order envisaging payment or non-payment of interest upon any amount which is due and payable, the same is binding upon both the parties. In the absence of any clause with regard to interest component in the agreement, the respondents are directed to release the ::6:: amount along with the interest @ 6% per annum on delayed payment, in view of the judgment of the Hon’ble Division Bench of this Court in Writ Appeal No.724 of 2021 and batch dated 12.10.2023 if not paid, within a period of three (03) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It would also be open to the petitioner to agitate his claim for higher rate of interest and due amount, if any payable by the respondents, in an appropriate forum. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. _________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J DT: 09.10.2025 krk ::7:: HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA W.P.No.288 of 2025 DT: 09.10.2025 krk 42