1 2026:CGHC:22479 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 2420 of 2026 1 - Gram Panchayat Dahejwar Through Its Panch And Authorized Signatory Upendra Yadav, S/o Ramlal Yadav, Aged About 37 Year, R/o Village Dahejwar, Janpad Panchayat Balrampur, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Public Works, Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, Distt. Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - Collector District Balrampur Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. 3 - Janpad Panchayat Balrampur Through Its Chief Executive Officer, Distt. Balrampur Ramanujganj, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) (Cause Title is taken from CIS System) For Petitioner : Mr. Sourabh Sahu, Advocate For State : Mr. Anand Dadariya, Dy. Advocate General Digitally signed by SHAYNA KADRI 2 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 13/05/2026 1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs: “i. That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to consider the representation of the petitioner and release the payment of Rs.2,00,000/- with interest of 12% per annum in favor of the petitioner. ii. Any other relief, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper, may also kindly be granted to the petitioner, in the interest of justice.” 2. Facts of the case, as projected, are that the petitioner is a Gram Panchayat which, by resolution dated 14.04.2026, authorized one of its Panch, namely Shri Upendra Yadav, to institute the present writ petition before this Court. It is the case of the petitioner that vide order dated 05.02.2018, the respondent authorities allotted the work of construction of a Government Fair Price Shop and Godown at village Dahejwar to the petitioner. For execution of the said work, an amount of Rs.10.76 lakhs was sanctioned under the 3 District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Fund. Pursuant to the allotment, the petitioner commenced and completed the construction work. During the course of execution of the work, payments were released from time to time against the bills raised by the petitioner and an amount of Rs.8.76 lakhs was already paid. Thereafter, upon completion of the work, the same was inspected by respondent No.3 on 30.09.2021 and a work completion certificate was also issued in favour of the petitioner. It is further pleaded that respondent No.3 thereafter recommended release of the final bill amounting to Rs.2 lakhs and forwarded the proposal along with necessary documents to respondent No.2 on 12.05.2022 for disbursal of the remaining payment. However, despite completion of the work and issuance of completion certificate, the balance amount has not been released till date. The petitioner thereafter submitted representations before the competent authorities seeking release of the outstanding payment along with interest, but no decision has been taken thereupon. Aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the respondents, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has duly completed the construction work entrusted to it and the same has also been verified by the competent authority. It is submitted 4 that the work completion certificate has already been issued and respondent No.3 itself recommended release of the final payment of Rs.2 lakhs in favour of the petitioner. It is further submitted that despite lapse of considerable time and repeated representations made by the petitioner, the respondents have failed to release the admitted amount, thereby causing serious financial hardship to the Gram Panchayat. Learned counsel submits that the action of the respondents is arbitrary and unjustified. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has already filed a representation before respondent No.3 seeking release of the outstanding payment along with interest and the petitioner would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the concerned authority to consider and decide the same expeditiously in accordance with law. 4. Learned State counsel submits that if the petitioner has submitted any representation before the competent authority, the same shall be considered and decided in accordance with law within a reasonable period. It is further submitted that the competent authority shall examine the claim of the petitioner on the basis of available records and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. 5. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 5 6. From perusal of the pleadings, it appears that the petitioner was allotted the work of construction of Government Fair Price Shop and Godown under the DMF Fund and substantial payment has already been released in favour of the petitioner. It further appears that after completion of the work, completion certificate was issued and recommendation was also made by respondent No. 3 for release of the final payment amounting to Rs. 2 lakhs. It is also borne out from the record that the petitioner has already submitted representation before the competent authority seeking release of the remaining amount along with interest and the same is stated to be pending consideration. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim of the petitioner, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the competent authority to consider the pending representation of the petitioner. Accordingly, respondent No.2 is directed to consider and decide the representation submitted by the petitioner for release of payment, strictly in accordance with law, within a reasonable period. 8. With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Shayna Judge