Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : 02.07.2026 Date of uploading : 08.07.2026 APHC010255012026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] THURSDAY, THE 2nd DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 13581/2026 Between: 1. KAPPALA SRIDHAR, S/O. SATHYAM, AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, R/O.H.NO.11-70/1, SC PETA, RYALI, ATREYAPURAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI-522238. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238. 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF PANCHAYATRAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, PVS EMPIRE, NEAR PATUR CROSS ROAD, TADEPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522501. 4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT-533101. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, KAKINADA, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT- 533001. 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, TRIBAL WELFARE DIVISION, RAM PACHODAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT- 533288. 2 SRK, J WP.No.13581 of 2026 7. THE CHINTHALAPUDI GRAM PANCHYATH, REP.BY ITS SPECIAL OFFICER - CUM - EXTENTION OFFICER, UNDER MAHATHMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME (MGNREGS), Y RAMAVARAM MANDAL, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT- 533483. ...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 an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the Social audit Withheld amount of Rs.4,74,648/- payable to the petitioner under M.Book No. 155/A/TW/2017, in accordance with Clarification issued vide Lr.No.2977/EGS/DEE(SS)/2014, dt 21.11.2017 by the 3rd respondent, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also oppose to the settled principles of law, and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release the Social audit Withheld amount of Rs.4,74,648/- payable to the petitioner under M.Book No. 155/A/TW/2017, in accordance with Clarification issued vide Lr.No.2977/EGS/DEE(SS)/2014, dt 21.11.2017 by the 3rd respondent, 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 pleased to direct respondent Nos: 1 to 3 to release the Social audit Withheld amount of Rs.4,74,6481- under M.Book No. 1551A/TW12017, pending disposal of the writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. RAVULA NAGARJUNA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR REVENUE 2. GP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE 3. GP MUNCIPAL ADMN AND URBAN DEV AP 4. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 3 SRK, J WP.No.13581 of 2026 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 the respondents in not releasing the Social audit Withheld amount of Rs.4,74,648/- payable to the petitioner under M.Book No. 155/A/TW/2017, in accordance with Clarification issued vide Lr.No.2977/EGS/DEE(SS)/2014, dt.21.11.2017 by the 3rd respondent, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also oppose to the settled principles of law, and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release the Social audit Withheld amount of Rs.4,74,648/- payable to the petitioner under M.Book No. 155/A/TW/2017, in accordance with Clarification issued vide Lr.No.2977/EGS/DEE(SS)/2014, dt 21.11.2017 by the 3rd respondent and pass such other order…” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat. 3. The petitioner claims to be a registered contractor engaged in the execution of civil works, and that he was entrusted with various 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 under MGNREGS Scheme for execution of the work viz. Providing WBM Road from Kota to Chintalapudi. It is the case of the petitioner that he executed the work to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned, and upon completion of the work, the respondent authorities have recorded the work measurements in Measurements Book 4. The grievance of the petitioner is that, despite completion of the work, an amount of Rs.4,74,648/-, withheld pursuant to the Social Audit, has not been paid to the petitioner till date. According to the petitioner, although the 4 SRK, J WP.No.13581 of 2026 work was completed more than two years ago, the respondent authorities are not releasing the said admitted amount payable to him. Aggrieved by the non- payment of the said amount, the petitioner filed the present Writ Petition. 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on oral instructions, from the respondent authorities concerned, submits that there is no dispute with regard to the execution of the work. She further submits that the petitioner is entitled for undisputed amount of Rs.4,74,648/-, and that proposals for release of grant were submitted to the authorities concerned, and she seeks time for payment of the said amount. 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 for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of Rs.4,74,648/- to the petitioner within a period of two (2) months 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: 02.07.2026. MS Whether the order is: Speaking ☑ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ☑ 5 SRK, J WP.No.13581 of 2026 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:13581 of 2026 Date: 02.07.2026 MS