Date of reserved for orders : - - - Date of pronouncement : 06.07.2026 Date of uploading : 08.07.2026 APHC010461132024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] MONDAY, THE 6th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 23834/2024 Between: 1. O. DILIP KUMAR REDDY,, S/O O.RAM SUBBA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, OCC- CONTRACTOR, R/O 3-66, THURPUPALLI, KALIKIRI, PALLAVOLU, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER A N D 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYATRAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER, PR CIRCLE, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, MADANAPALLI, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT. 5. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...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 of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents in withholding the payment of 1st and Final bill amount of Rs. SRK, J W.P.No.23834 of 2024 2 15,09,003/- (CFMS.No. 2023-711916) even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the work i.e., FDR to Road from Mangalampeta- kothapeta Road to Elakadhonipenta H/o.Nannurivaripalle of Pulicherla Mandal, vide Agreement No. /2021- 22, dt.09.01.2022, is questioned, as the same is illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to consider for payment of balance amount of Rs. 15,09,003/- (CFMS.No. 2023-711916) with interest @12percent per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above-mentioned work forthwith and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2024 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 may please to direct the respondents to consider for payment of balance amount of Rs. 15,09,003/- (CFMS.No. 2023-711916) even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the work i.e., “FDR to Road from Mangalampeta kothapeta Road to Elakadhonipenta H/ o Nannurivaripalle of Pulicherla Mandal, vide Agreement No. /2021-22, dt.09.01.2022, forthwith, pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SURESH KUMAR REDDY KALAVA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: SRK, J W.P.No.23834 of 2024 3 O R D E R This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief: “….to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of respondents in withholding the payment of 1st and Final bill amount of Rs.15,09,003/- (CFMS No.2023-711916) even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the work i.e. FDR to road from Mangalampeta-Kothapeta Road to Elakadhonipenta, H/o. Nannurivaripalle of Pulicherla Mandal, vide Agreement No./2021-22, dt. 09.01.2022, is questioned, as the same is illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to consider for payment of balance amount of Rs.15,09,003/- (CFMS No.2023-711916) with interest at the rate of 12% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above-mentioned work forthwith and pass such other order or orders …” 2. Heard learned counsel for the Writ Petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development representing respondent Nos.1, 3 and 4, and learned Assistant Government for Revenue, representing respondent No.2. 3. The Writ Petitioner claims to be a Civil Contractor, used to execute civil works awarded by the Government. The Writ Petitioner was awarded the work of FDR to Road from Mangalampeta-Kothapeta Road to Elakadhonipenta, H/o. Nannurivaripalle of Pulicherla Mandal, vide Agreement No./2021-22, dated 09.01.2022. The Writ Petitioner completed the said work as per SRK, J W.P.No.23834 of 2024 4 the Agreement. Having satisfied with the execution of works, the respondents entered the same in Measurement Book and prepared the bills on 25.05.2023 in respect of the work done by the Writ Petitioner, for finalization of Bills for an amount of Rs.15,09,003/-. Though repeated requests have been made by the Writ Petitioner, the respondents are not paying the pending bills to the Writ Petitioner. According to Writ Petitioner, having executed the work satisfactorily, within the prescribed time, non-payment of the bill amount was arbitrary and unjustified. It was further contended that the delay in payment is causing severe financial hardship, necessitating the filing of the present Writ Petition seeking appropriate directions for release of the outstanding amount. 4. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on written instructions received from the Executive Engineer, PRI Division, Madanapalle-4th respondent, submits that the Writ Petitioner is entitled to a net amount of Rs.15,09,003/- after statutory deductions such as QC Charges etc., aggregating to Rs.4,82,026/-. Learned Assistant Government Pleader further submits that the CFMS Bill No.2023-711916 for Rs.19,91,029/- submitted to the Pay and Accounts Officer, Chittoor was returned with the following remarks, which reads thus: SRK, J W.P.No.23834 of 2024 5 “Authority under which the work was entrusted on nomination basis may be permission for entrustment of the FDR work on nomination basis up to 25.00 lakhs vide Proceedings Roc No: AEE1/DEE/Floods & Heavy Rains/2021, Dt: 25.11.2021 of the District Collector, Chittoor through the existing G.O. 15 permits entrustment on nomination up to 5.00 lakhs only. Since to execute the FDR works on war footing basis. But APAO, Chittoor proceedings by Finance Dept. for ratification but still not ratified. But subsequently obtained ratification orders for entrustment on nomination basis having Estimate Cost more than five lakhs later on bill budget not available for uploading bill.” The written instructions placed by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development are placed on record. 5. Having regard to the fact that, there is no dispute with regard to the works executed by the Writ Petitioner and the amount payable to him, and in view of the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of Rs.15,09,003/- (Rupees Fifteen Lakhs Nine Thousand and Three only) to the Writ Petitioner within a period of Three (3) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. SRK, J W.P.No.23834 of 2024 6 6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs of the Writ Petition. As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY 6th July, 2026. DNB Whether the Order is: Speaking ✓ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ✓