1 CGHC010273772026 2026:CGHC:31906 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 3809 of 2026 1 - Prahalad Tent House Proprietor- Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Aged About 53 Years, S/o Shri Prahlad Rai Agrawal, At- Station Road, Sadar Bazar, Ward No 9 Janjgir, District Janjgir Champa, C.G. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Public Works Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.). 2 - Collector Janjgir-Champa, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.). 3 - Executive Engineer Public Works Department, Champa Division, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.). 4 - Commissioner Social Welfare Department, Government Of Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur (C.G.). ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Akash Mishra, Advocate. For Respondent(s)/State : Mr. Shobhit Mishra, Dy. G.A. RAGHVENDRA JAT Digitally signed by RAGHVENDRA JAT 2 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad Order on Board 27/07/2026 1. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:- “1. The Court may kindly be pleased to pass appropriate writ(s)/order(s) and direct respondents to make necessary arrangements and disbursal of funds to the petitioner so that his dues totaling to INR 2,38,584/- can be cleared within a time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court. 2. The Court may kindly be pleased to pass appropriate writ(s)/order(s) and direct respondent No.2 take cognizance and act upon the letter of respondent No.3 which is Annexure P/1 dated 26.05.2026 within a time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court. 3. Any other relief/direction that the Court may deem fits in the facts and circumstances of the case.” 2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that, pursuant to the written order issued by the concerned Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), respondent No. 3 herein, the petitioner was engaged to provide tent house and allied services for the International Yoga Day Programme organized at Bhima Talab, Janjgir. In compliance with the said work order, the petitioner duly rendered the required services and thereafter raised a bill for an amount of Rs. 2,38,584/- before the competent authorities. However, despite the successful completion of the work and repeated requests made by the petitioner, the outstanding amount has not been released till date, 3 although the services were rendered as far back as the year 2022. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner again approached the concerned authorities on 26.05.2026, whereupon the Executive Engineer, PWD, after verifying the claim, addressed a communication dated 26.05.2026 to the Collector, Janjgir- Champa, specifically recommending and endorsing the petitioner's outstanding payment in respect of the International Yoga Day Programme. It is further submitted that since the petitioner's claim is neither disputed nor denied by the department and has, in fact, been duly recommended by the competent Executive Engineer, the respondents deserve to be directed to consider the petitioner's claim and release the outstanding amount of Rs. 2,38,584/- without any further delay. 3. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the State does not dispute the communication dated 26.05.2026 issued by the concerned Executive Engineer, PWD, recommending the petitioner's claim for payment. However, he submits that the services in question were rendered in the year 2022, whereas the petitioner has approached this Court after a considerable lapse of time. It is, therefore, contended that the writ petition suffers from delay and laches and, on that ground alone, no interference is warranted by this Court. 4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the material available on record, particularly the communication dated 26.05.2026 issued by the Executive Engineer, Public Works 4 Department, addressed to the Collector, Janjgir-Champa, it is evident that the competent departmental authority has acknowledged the petitioner's claim and recommended the release of an amount of Rs. 2,38,584/- towards the services rendered by the petitioner during the International Yoga Day Programme. The said communication also indicates that the payment could not be released only on account of non-sanction of funds. In view of the aforesaid facts, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the competent authorities to consider the petitioner's claim in the light of the recommendation dated 26.05.2026 and pass an appropriate reasoned order after due verification, strictly in accordance with law. In the event the petitioner's claim is found to be genuine and there is no legal impediment to its release, the outstanding amount of Rs. 2,38,584/- shall be disbursed to the petitioner within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. 5. With this observation and direction, the writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Amitendra Kishore Prasad) Judge Raghu Jat