APHC010329322025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3209] MONDAY,THE NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA WRIT PETITION NO: 17027/2025 Between: 1. VAJRAPU SRINIVASA RAO, S/O. RAMARAO, AGED 60 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR, R/O. D.NO. 9-3-68, KATHULAGUDEM, PITHAPURAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE ANDHRA PRADESH EDUCATION AND WELFARE INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION, REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, SRI SAI FORTUNE HEIGHTS, VADDESWARAM, TADEPALLI. 2 NJS,J W.P.NO.17027 OF 2025 4. THE CHIEF ENGINEER, ANDHRA PRADESH EDUCATION AND WELFARE INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION, VIJAYAWADA. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, ANDHRA PRADESH EDUCATION AND WELFARE INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION, KAKINADA. ...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 toprayed that this Writ of Mandamus declaring action of the Respondents in withholding the payment of Rs.7,15,000/- (Rupees Seven Lakh Fifteen Thousand only) in relation to the work named Providing Additional Infrastructure to Z.P High School at Kothapally (V) of U.Kothapally (M) in East Godavari District under NABARD RIDF-XXV as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India apart from Principles of Natural Justice and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release the payment of Rs.7,15,000/- (Rupees Seven Lakh Fifteen Thousand only) with interest @24 percent per annum to the petitioner in respect of execution of above- mentioned work 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 Please to direct the respondents to release the payment of Rs.7,15,000/- (Rupees Seven Lakh Fifteen Thousand only) with interest @24% per annum in respect of “Providing Additional Infrastructure to Z.P High School at Kothapally (V) of U.Kothapally (M) in East Godavari District under NABARD RIDF- XXV” pending disposal of the Writ Petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 3 NJS,J W.P.NO.17027 OF 2025 1. P VIVEK Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. V CH NAIDU 2. GP FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION 3. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 4 NJS,J W.P.NO.17027 OF 2025 ORDER The present writ petition is filed aggrieved by the action of the respondents in not making payment of an amount of Rs.7,15,000/- towards the work executed by the petitioner. 2. Heard Mr.P.Vivek, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Finance Planning. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, inter-alia, states that the subject matter work i.e., providing additional infrastructure to Z.P High School at Kothapally village were entrusted to the petitioner pursuant to an agreement dated 24.09.2020, and the same was completed in the month of August, 2022. He further submits that thereafter the petitioner raised bill for an amount of Rs.7,15,000/-, and though no complaints were raised with reference to the work executed by the petitioner, the said amount has not been released so far. As the petitioner is facing financial difficulties, he is constrained to file present writ petition. 4. None of the respondents have filed counter-affidavits. However, as seen from the letter dated 04.02.2025 addressed by the 3rd respondent/Corporation to the Commissioner for School Infrastructure, for processing MBNN Phase-I bills under NABARD 5 NJS,J W.P.NO.17027 OF 2025 XXV, a model tile has been prepared and necessary action has to be taken to enable the Tile incorporation in the portal so as to upload the final bill of the completed work, as the tranche is getting closed by 31.03.2025. Insofar as, the petitioner’s bill is concerned, it is clear from the instructions dated 11.07.2025 issued by the Executive Engineer/5th respondent herein, the work was completed and final bill has to be paid. Thus, there is no dispute about the work executed by the petitioner and his entitlement to the same. Admittedly, the work was completed on 08.08.2022 and about three and half years have already gone by. 5. By one reason or the other, the amounts to which the petitioner is lawfully entitled is not being released. Having got the work executed, a duty is cast on the respondent authorities to take appropriate steps for release of payment as expeditiously as possible. But, the same is not done in the present case. 6. In view of the above stated-position, having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of with a direction to respondents to arrange to pay the bill amount of Rs.7,15,000/- to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, within a period of six 6 NJS,J W.P.NO.17027 OF 2025 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Insofar as, the claim for interest is concerned, the petitioner may work out his remedies in accordance with law. 7. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________________ JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA Date: 09.02.2026 LSP