Date of reserved for orders : ----------- Date of pronouncement : 23.06.2026 Date of uploading : 04.07.2026 APHC010189482026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] TUESDAY,THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 10119/2026 Between: 1. VEERANKI SRIDHAR, S/O. SATYANARAYANA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR, R/O. D.NO. 3-70, NEAR WATER TANK, VELAVADAM POST, MYLAVARAM MANDAL, N.T.R. DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522238. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, VIJYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT- 520001. 4. THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER, PANCHAYATRAJ CIRCLE, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT-520001 5. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, MGNREGS, GOLLAPUDI, VIJAYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT., PREVIUSLY KRISHNA DISTRICT- 2 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 520001. 6. THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM OFFICER, MGNREGS, MYLAVARAM MANDAL, N.T. R DISTRICT-521230. 7. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, PANCHAYATRAJ DEPARTMENT, VIJYAWADA, N.T.R. DISTRICT-520001. 8. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI- SUB- DIVISION, MYLAVARAM, MYLAVARAM MANDAL 9. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI MYLAVARAM, MYLAVARAM MANDAL, N.T.R. DISTRICT-521230. 10. THE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MYLAVARAM, MYLAVARAM MANDAL, N.T. R DISTRICT-521230. 11. THE COMMISSIONER, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEPARTMENT TADEPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522501. 12. VELVADAM GRAMA PANCHAYAT, REP BY ITS PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, VELVADAM VILLAGE, MYLAVARAM MANDAL N.T.R DISTRICT-521230. ...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 to issue a Writ, Order, or Direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the respondent authorities in not releasing the refund of with held amount of Rs. 1,25,011/- even after finalizing the bills, payable to the works for Construction of Pucca internal CC roads including Drains Culverts to the roads situated at Velvadam Village of Mylavaram Mandal, N.T.R. District, even finalizing the execution of said works under MGNREGS GRANTS is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Art 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent authorities to release the refund of with held amount of Rs. 1,25,011/-forthwith for the above said works executed by the petitioner with interest of 12PERCENTper annum and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 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 to 3 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 direct respondents to release the refund of with held amount of Rs. 1,25,011/- for the works executed by the petitioner for Construction of Pucca internal CC roads including Drains & Culverts to the roads situated at Velvadam Village of Mylavaram Mandal, N.T.R. District under MGNREGSGRANTS, pending disposal of the main Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. PAMARTHI KAMESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 4 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 O R D E R This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief: “….to issue a Writ, Order, or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the respondent authorities in not releasing the refund of withheld amount of Rs.1,25,011/- even after finalizing the bills, payable to the works for Construction of Pucca internal CC roads including Drains Culverts to the roads situated at Velvadam Village of Mylavaram Mandal, N.T.R. District, even finalizing the execution of said works under MGNREGS GRANTS is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Art 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent authorities to release the refund of with held amount of Rs. 1,25,011/- forthwith for the above said works executed by the petitioner with interest of 12% per annum and pass such other order…” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development. 3. The petitioner claims to be a registered contractor engaged in the execution of works of the Panchayat Raj Department and the Roads & Buildings Department on a tender basis. It is the case of the petitioner that he was awarded a contract for the execution of the works, viz., construction of pucca internal CC roads, including drains and culverts, at Velvadam Village, Mylavaram Mandal, NTR District. Despite the completion of all six works under the MGNREGS Grants to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned, the respondent authorities have not refunded the amounts withheld. It is further the case of the petitioner that he deposited the requisite security amount and executed the works to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned. 5 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 4. It is the grievance of the petitioner that notwithstanding the completion of the works, the withheld amounts towards the executed works have not been paid till date. According to the petitioner, although the works were completed several years ago, the respondent authorities did not release the admitted amount payable to him. Aggrieved by the non-payment of the withheld amounts, the petitioner filed the present Writ Petition. 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on written instructions, from the Executive Engineer, PRI Division, Vijayawada-7th respondent, submits that there is no dispute with regard to the execution of the works. According to her, the petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.1,25,011/-, and that proposals for release of grant were submitted to the concerned authorities for payment of the said amount within a period of six months. The written instructions are placed on record. 6. Having regard to the fact that there is no dispute with regard to the works executed by the petitioner and the amount payable to him, and in view of the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of Rs.1,25,011/- to the petitioner within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Date: 23.06.2026. MS Whether the order is: Speaking ☑ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ☑ 6 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 7 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:10119 of 2026 Date: 23.06.2026 MS 8 SRK, J WP.No.10119 of 2026