Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : 02.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010052442026 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: 3089/2026 Between: 1. MR. GOWTHU VEERA SHANKAR,, S/O. LAKSHMAN RAO, R/O 2-201, PANCHAYITHI STREET, SANAKHAVARAM, KATHIPUDI, EAST GODAVARI, ANDHRA PRADESH-533444 ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF PANCHAYATI RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, A.P. SECRETARIAT OFFICE, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -522238 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, A.P. SECRETARIAT OFFICE, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH-522238 3. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF, , DEPARTMENT OF PANCHAYATI RAJ, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH-520002 4. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, KAKINADA, PRI SUB-DIVISION, PRATHIPADU-533432 5. THE VAZRAKUTAM GRAM PANCHAYAT, REP., BY ITS PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, VAZRAKUTAM VILLAGE, SANKHAVARAM MANDAL, 2 SRK, J WP.No.3089 of 2026 KAKINADA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH-533446 ...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, declaring the action of the respondents in withholding and non-payment of bills payable to the petitioner, amounting Rs. 14,31,673/- (Fourteen Lakh Thirteen One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Three) (Net Amount), for the works duly executed by the petitioner, as illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and against the Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, 1949 and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release and pay the bill amount of Rs. 14,31,673/- (Net Amount) for the work executed by the petitioner and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. KARTHIK SHAH Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. Yarraguntla.Koteswara Rao,Standing Counsel For Zilla Praja Parishads,Mandal Praja Parishads and Gra 3. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 3 SRK, J WP.No.3089 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, declaring the action of the respondents in withholding and non-payment of bills payable to the petitioner, amounting Rs.14,31,673/-, for the works duly executed by the petitioner, as illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and against the Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, 1949 and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release and pay the bill amount of Rs.14,31,673/- for the work executed by the petitioner and pass such other order…” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. 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 for execution of ten works viz. Formation of roads in Vazrakutam Village. It is the case of the petitioner that he executed the works to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned, and upon completion of the works, the respondents entered the same in the Measurement Books. 4. It is the grievance of the petitioner that notwithstanding the completion of the works, the amount due towards the executed works has not been paid till date. According to the petitioner, although the works were completed more than two years ago, the respondent authorities are not releasing the admitted amounts payable to him. Aggrieved by the non-payment of the said amounts, the petitioner filed the present Writ Petition. 4 SRK, J WP.No.3089 of 2026 5. Learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat, on oral instructions, from the respondent authorities concerned, submits that there is no dispute with regard to the execution of the works. She further submits that the petitioner is entitled to the amount of Rs.14,31,673/- after statutory deductions, and that proposals for release of grant were submitted to the authorities concerned, and 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 Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat, the respondent authorities are directed to pay the undisputed amount of Rs.14,31,673/- 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.3089 of 2026 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:3089 of 2026 Date: 02.07.2026 MS