APHC010400712025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3328] WEDNESDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO: 20685/2025 Between: 1. B.VENKATA KRISHNA REDDY,, S/O SUNKI REDDY, AGE 62 YEARS. OCCUPATION- CONTRACTOR R/O. ALLAGADDA VILLAGE, ALLAGADDA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, A.P SECRETARIAT BUILDING, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN DEPARTMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT BUILDING, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI. 3. THE ALLAGADDA MUNICIPALITY, REP.BY ITS COMMISSIONER, ALLAGADDA MANDAL, NANDYAL DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. CHANDRA SEKHARA REDDY. S Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING 2 2. GP MUNCIPAL ADMN AND URBAN DEV AP The Court made the following: ORAL ORDER: Heard Sri R.V. Shiva Teja Reddy, learned Counsel representing Sri S. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, learned Counsel for the Writ Petitioner and Sri G. Lakshmi Narayana, learned Standing Counsel for Municipalities. 2. Sri G. Lakshmi Narayana, learned Standing Counsel for Municipalities has submitted the Written Instructions furnished by the Commissioner of Allagadda Municipality. Copy of it is supplied to the Counsel for the Writ Petitioner and the same is taken on record. 3. Para 3 of the Written Instructions would indicate that the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs.2,09,575/- would be returned within a couple of months. The facts would further indicate that the claim of the Writ Petitioner herein is the money deposited by the Petitioner as the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). 4. From the Written Instructions, it transpires that the Respondent has not raised any objection or dispute with regard to the completion of the contract work. 5. In this view of the matter, the Earnest Money Deposit, as such belongs to the Writ Petitioner and cannot be withheld by the Respondent Municipality. 6. Therefore, the request made by the Respondent to return the Earnest Money Deposit within “a couple of months” is rejected. The Respondent Municipality is directed to return the EMD within a period of two (02) weeks from the date of uploading of the Order on the website of this Court, failing which this Court shall view such non-compliance seriously. 7. With these observations and directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. 3 8. Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand closed in terms of this order. _________________________________ GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD, J Dt: 18.03.2026 DSV 4 144 HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO: 20685/2025 18.03.2026 DSV 5 HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATHI MAIN CASE No. WRIT PETITION NO: 20685/2025 PROCEEDING SHEET Sl. No DATE ORDER Office Note 2. 18.03.2026 GRKP, J Writ Petition is disposed of. (vide separate order) ___________ GRKP, J DSV 6