Date of reserved for orders : - - - Date of pronouncement : 08.07.2026 Date of uploading : 15.07.2026 APHC010265432026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] WEDNESDAY, THE 8th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 14395/2026 Between: 1. B. CHANDRA SEKAR REDDY,, S/O B. GANTIA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, OCC. CONTRACTOR, R/O12-6, KAMBALADEVANAPALLI, RAMAKUPPAM, MAHENDRAM, CHITTOOR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER A N D 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522 238. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522238. 3. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, RWS AND S, CHITTOOR DIVISION, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517 001. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS AND S, CHITTOOR DIVISION, CHITTOOR-517 001. 5. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS AND S KUPPAM, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517 425. 6. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, RWS AND S RAMAKUPPAM, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517 401. 7. THE BANDARLAPALLE GRAM PANCHAYAT, REP. BY ITS PANCHAYAT SECRETARY, BANDARLAPALLE, RAMAKUPPAM MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517401.. 8. THE ASSISTANT PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, CHITTOOR, CHITTOOR DISTRICT - 517 001. ...RESPONDENT(S): SRK, J W.P.No.14395 of 2026 2 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 in not releasing the payment of the final bill amount of Rs.98,171/- to the petitioner along with interest for the works done by the petitioner in pursuance of agreement entered with the 5th respondent vide agreement dated 20.08.2023 for providing CC Drain cover with slabs at Kotarigadda of Bandarlapalle Gram Panchayat in Ramakuppam 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 percent 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.98,171/- forthwith payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i.e. for providing CC Drain cover with slabs at Kotarigadda of Bandarlapalle Gram Panchayat in Ramakuppam Mandal, Chittoor District, 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 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: SRK, J W.P.No.14395 of 2026 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 the respondents in not releasing the payment of the final bill amount of Rs.98,171/- to the petitioner along with interest for the works done by the petitioner in pursuance of Agreement entered with 5th respondent vide Agreement dated 20.08.2023 for providing CC Drain cover with slabs at Kotarigadda of Bandarlapalle Gram Panchayat in Ramakuppam Mandal, Chittoor District, as illegal, arbitrary and violation of the principles of natural justice and consequently, direct the respondents to release the payment of bill amount with interest @ 24% per annum for the delayed amount 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 to 6, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Finance, representing respondent Nos.2 and 8, and learned Standing Counsel for Gram Panchayat, representing respondent No.7. 3. The Writ Petitioner claims to be a Civil Contractor, undertaking civil works. The Writ Petitioner entered into an Agreement with 5th respondent vide Agreement dated 20.08.2023 for providing CC Drain cover with slabs at Kotarigadda of Bandarlapalle Gram Panchayat in Ramakuppam Mandal, Chittoor District. The estimated contract value was Rs.1,00,000/-. The Writ Petitioner executed the SRK, J W.P.No.14395 of 2026 4 entire work as per the Agreement, and the same was examined and scrutinized by 6th respondent. The respondent authorities also issued Quality Control Certificate on 27.12.2023. In spite of completing the works by the Writ Petitioner, the respondent authorities are not releasing the amount. Though the Writ Petitioner approached the respondent authorities on multiple occasions, requesting for payment of pending bill amount of Rs.98,171/-, they are not doing so. 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, RWS&S Division, Chittoor-4th respondent, submits that the Writ Petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.88781/- after statutory deductions such as Seigniorage charges, SGST and CGST etc., aggregating to Rs.9,390/-. She further submits that the bill was received on 11.03.2024 on 11.03.2024 by the Office of 4th respondent and the pending bill amount was informed to the Government through SRK, J W.P.No.14395 of 2026 5 the District Collector, Chittoor for release of the amount to the Writ Petitioner and seeks time. The written instructions 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 in view of the submission made by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of Rs.88,781/- (Rupees Eighty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One Only) to the Writ Petitioner within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 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 8th July, 2026. DNB Whether the Order is: Speaking ✓ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ✓