Date of reserved for orders : - - - Date of pronouncement : 08.07.2026 Date of uploading : 15.07.2026 APHC010308892026 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: 16391/2026 Between: 1. KOLLI JAYA RAMI REDDY,, S/O. TIRUPATHIREDDY, AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS, OCC. CONTRACTOR, R/O. D.NO.3-62/1, PEDAKURIPADU MANDAL, 75-TYAILUR, PARASTYALLUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...PETITIONER A N D 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, PANCHAYAT RAJ ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522238 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, PALNADU DISTRICT-522601 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, R.W.S AND, S.DIVISION, NARASARAOPETA, PALNADU DISTRICT-522601 5. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, R.W.S AND S.SUB- DIVISION-II, SATENAPALLI, PALNADU DISTRICT-522403 6. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, R.W.S AND S.DIVISION, PEDAKURAPADU, PALANDU DISTRICT-522402 ...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 not releasing the bill amounts admittedly SRK, J W.P.No.16391 of 2026 2 due to the petitioner, despite the successful completion of the works entrusted to him. The said works are duly recorded in M-Book No. 90A/2021-2022, pertaining to the work of Construction of side Drain from Nandigam Sambaiah (H) to Sudhisetti Veeranjeneyulu (H) in Balsupadu Village in Pedakurapadu Mandal, Palandu District, executed under the GGMP (Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabuthavam) Grant Funds for Rs.5 lakhs. The said work was entrusted to the Sarpanch, Grama Panchayat, Khambampadu Village, on nomination basis, and was duly completed and approved for payment of a total amount of Rs.4,00,040/- despite completion of the defect liability period and repeated representations made by the petitioner, the respondents have failed to release the bill amounts without any justifiable reason. The said inaction on the part of the respondents is illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory, and amounts to unjust enrichment, besides being violative of Articles 14, 19, 21, and 300-A of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the respondents forthwith to release bill amounts admittedly due to the petitioner in respect of aforesaid works along with interest accrued there on 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 to release the funds through proper banking channels into the account of the petitioner or any other account as may be deemed appropriate, towards the amount payable for the work executed by the petitioner under M-Book No. 90A/2021- 2022, pertaining to the work of Construction of side Drain from Nandigam Sambaiah (H) to Sudhisetti Veeranjeneyulu (H) in Balsupadu Village in Pedakurapadu Mandal, Palandu District, for a total amount of Rs.4,00,040/-, pending disposal of the main writ petition, and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. SOMISETTY GANESH BABU 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.16391 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 bill amounts due to the petitioner, despite the successful completion of the works entrusted to him. The said works are duly recorded in M-Book No.90A/2021- 2022, pertaining to the work of Construction of side Drain from Nandigam Sambaiah (H) to Sudhisetti Veeranjaneyulu (H) in Balsupadu village in Pedakurapadu Mandal, Palnadu District, executed under the GGMP (Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhuthvam) Grant Funds for Rs.5.00 lakhs. The said work was entrusted to the Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat, Khambampadu village, on nomination basis, and was duly completed and approved for payment of a total amount of Rs.4,00,040/- despite completion of the defect liability period and repeated representations made by the petitioner, the respondents have failed to release the bill amounts without any justifiable reason, and consequently, direct the respondents forthwith to release bill amounts due to the petitioner in respect of the aforesaid works along with interest accrued therein and pass 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 No.2. 3. The Writ Petitioner claims to be a Civil Contractor, undertaking civil works. The Writ Petitioner entered into an Agreement with respondent vide Agreement No.61/2022-2023, dated 25.03.2023 for execution of Construction work of side Drain from Nandigam SRK, J W.P.No.16391 of 2026 4 Sambaiah (H) to Sudhisetti Veeranjaneyulu (H) in Balsupadu village in Pedakurapadu Mandal, Palnadu District, executed under the GGMP (Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhuthvam) Grant Funds for Rs.5.00 lakhs. The Writ Petitioner executed the entire work as per the Agreement, and the same was examined and scrutinized by 4th respondent and entered in M-Book. In spite of completion of 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.4,00,040/-, 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 instructions received, submits that the Writ Petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.4,00,040/-. She further submits that the bill was received by the Office of 5th respondent and the pending bill amount was informed to the Government through the SRK, J W.P.No.16391 of 2026 5 District Collector, Palnadu District for release of the amount to the Writ Petitioner and seeks time. The instructions are recorded. 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.4,00,040/- (Rupees Four Lakhs and Forty Only) to the Writ Petitioner within a period of six (6) 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 ✓