Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : 02.07.2026 Date of uploading : APHC010143002026 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: 17393/2026 Between: 1. K VENKATA TEJA, S/O. R.KESAVA MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, OCC CHAIRMAN OF HABITATION WORKSJCOMMITTEE, RIO. THEERTHAM, BAIREDDYPALLE MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. - 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED B ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,P BY P FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, RWS S, CHITTOOR DIVISION, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS S, CHITTOOR DIVISION, CHITTOOR. 5. 5. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS S PALAMANER, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. - 6. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, RWS S BAIREDDYPALLE, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 2 SRK, J WP.No.17393 of 2026 7. THE PATHAPETA GRAM PANCHAYAT, REP. BY ITS PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, APATHA ETA VILLA BAIREDDYPALLE MANDAL CHITTOOR DISTRICT. 8. THE ASSISTANT PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR 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 or Order or a direction more particularly in a nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents not releasing the payment of the final bill amount the action of the respondents in not releasing the final bill amount gross value of Rs. 1,28,318/- to the petitioner along with interest for the works done by the petitioner in pursuance of agreement entered in to with the 4th respondent vide agreement dated 02.11.2023 for construction of C.C. Drain from Chandra House to Munuswamy House at Pathapeta of Pathapeta Village, Baireddipalle Mandal, Chittoor District as illegal, arbitrary and violation of the principles of natural Justice and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents to release the payment of bill amounts with interest @24% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of the work 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 pass an interim direction pending disposal of the Writ Petition, directing the Respondents to release the final bill amount of Rs. 1,28,318/- payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i.e. for construction of C.C. Drain from Chandra House to Munuswamy House at Pathapeta of Pathapeta Village, Baireddipalle Mandal, Chittoor District forthwith, pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. K RAGHU VEER Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV The Court made the following: 3 SRK, J WP.No.17393 of 2026 O R D E R This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief: “….to issue a Writ or Order or a direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents not releasing the payment of the final bill amount the action of the respondents in not releasing the final bill amount gross value of Rs. 1,28,318/- to the petitioner along with interest for the works done by the petitioner in pursuance of agreement entered in to with the 4th respondent vide agreement dated 02.11.2023 for construction of C.C. Drain from Chandra House to Munuswamy House at Pathapeta of Pathapeta Village, Baireddipalle Mandal, Chittoor District as illegal, arbitrary and violation of the principles of natural Justice and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents to release the payment of bill amounts with interest @ 24% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of the work 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. s 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 the work viz. Construction of C.C. Drain from Chandra House to Munuswamy House at Pathapeta of Pathapeta Village, Baireddipalle Mandal, Chittoor District with an estimated cost of Rs.1.30 Lakhs. 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 entered the same in the Measurements Book. 4. It is the grievance of the petitioner that notwithstanding the completion of the work, the amount due towards the executed work has not been paid till date. According to the petitioner, although the work was completed two years ago, the respondent authorities are not releasing the admitted amount payable 4 SRK, J WP.No.17393 of 2026 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 written instructions, from the Executive Engineer, RWS & S Division, Chittoor-4th respondent, submits that there is no dispute with regard to the execution of the work by the petitioner. She further submits that the petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.1,28,318/- after statutory deductions such as Income Tax, GST, Labour Cess etc. aggregating to Rs.14,465/-, and that proposals for release of grant were submitted to the authorities concerned, and she seeks time for payment of the said amount. 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 for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of Rs.1,28,318/- 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: 02.07.2026. MS Whether the order is: Speaking ☑ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ☑ 5 SRK, J WP.No.17393 of 2026 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:17393 of 2026 Date: 02.07.2026 MS