Date of reserved for orders: --- Date of pronouncement : 08.07.2026 Date of uploading : 09.07.2026 APHC010134282026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3331] WEDNESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI WRIT PETITION NO: 8211/2026 Between: 1. DHARMARAJULA SATYANARAYANA,, S/O.NAGA BHUSHANAM, CONTRACTOR, R/O.D.NO.7-169, BEHIND BRAHMAMGARI TEMPLE, KAIKALURU, KAIKALURU MANDAL, KRISHNA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238. 2. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF, MINOR/MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, IRRIGATION BHAVAN, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT-520002. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ENGINEER, IRRIGATION CIRCLE, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT-520002. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, KRISHNA EASTERN DIVISION, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT-520002. 5. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522238. ...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 herein in not paying the admitted bill amount of Rs.7,81,804/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.25/2024-25 dated 22-07- 2024, bill amount of Rs. 12,23,551/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.26/2024-25 dated 22-07-2024 and bill amount of Rs.l 1,77,684/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.27/2024-25 dated 22-07-2024 even after finalizing the bills payable to the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents herein forthwith to release and pay the aforesaid admitted bill amounts to the petitioner along with interest @24percent per 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 direct the respondents herein forthwith to release and pay the admitted bill amount of Rs.7,81,804/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.25/2024-25 dated 22-07- 2024, bill amount of Rs. 12,23,551/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.26/2024-25 dated 22-07-2024 and bill amount of Rs. 11,77,684/- for the work executed in terms of Agreement No.27/2024-25 dated 22-07-2024 to the petitioner along with interest @24% per annum, pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. P L NARASIMHA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: ORDER The above writ petition was filed to declare the action of the respondent authorities in not releasing the amount of Rs.31,89,039/- (Rs.7,81,804/- + Rs.12,23,551/- + Rs.11,77,684/-) payable to the petitioner for execution of works in pursuance of agreement Nos.25, 26 & 27/2024-25, dated 22.07.2024, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. Heard Sri P.L.Narasimha Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri S.Satish, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation, for the respondents. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that pursuant to Exs.P2 to P4 agreements, the petitioner has executed the aforementioned works as per the timelines stipulated in the agreements and the same was verified by the respective authorities. However, the amount has not been paid so far. 4. Today, when the matter is taken up, Sri S.Satish, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation and Finance & Planning Department, appearing for the respondents, submitted the written instructions furnished by the 4th respondent-Executive Engineer, K.E. Division, Vijayawada, vide Letter No.EE/KE/VJA/AB/A4/Court/M, dated 07.07.2026, wherein it is stated that the amount payable to the petitioner in respect of the aforementioned works is Rs.30,18,049/- (Rs.11,74,309/- + Rs.11,43,073/- + Rs.7,00,667/-) and the above bill was not processed for payment due to lack of L.O.C. 5. Learned counsel undertakes to pay the deficit court fee of Rs.200/- within one week and file a memo to that effect. The same is recorded. 6. Thus, as seen from the averments made in the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of respondent No.6, there is no dispute regarding the execution of work and the petitioner’s entitlement for the aforementioned amount. Since the amount payable is admitted and undisputed, the writ petition is maintainable. In M/s Utkal Highways Engineers and Contractors v. Chief General Manager & Ors1, it was held at Para No.8 as under: “Be that as it may, the High court has not dealt with the merits of the writ petition. Moreover, it is not an inviolable rule that no money claim can be adjudicated upon in exercise of writ jurisdiction. Non-payment of admitted dues, inter alia, may be considered an arbitrary action on the part of respondents and for claiming the same, a writ petition may lie. Further, throwing a writ petition on ground of availability of alternative remedy after 10 years, particularly, when parties have exchanged their affidavits, is not the correct course unless there are disputed questions of fact which by their very nature cannot be adjudicated upon without recording formal evidence.” 8. Given the averments made in the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of 4th respondent, the Writ Petition is disposed of, directing the respondents to release an amount of Rs.30,18,049/- (Rupees Thirty Lakhs Eighteen Thousand Forty Nine only) payable to the petitioner 1 2025 SCC online SC 1400 regarding execution of the aforementioned works, subject to statutory deductions, if any, within three (03) months from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. Insofar as the interest component is concerned, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the civil court or appropriate forum, given the directions in W.A.No.60 of 2025 dated 11.02.2025. No order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI PVD Whether the order is: Speaking Yes/No / Recorded Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No