APHC010108862026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] TUESDAY, THE 21st DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 9978/2026 Between: 1. KANCHARLA SALMON RAJU, S/O. SAMSON, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/O. AMBEDKAR NAGAR, THIMMASAMUDRAM (V) NAGULUPPALAPADU (M), PRAKASAM DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER A N D 1. THE STATE OF A P, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BTRILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 522238 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 522238 3. THE ENGINEERINCHIEF, PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPARTMENT, OPPOSITE PWD GROUNDS, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. 520001 4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND MAGISTRATE, PRAKASAM DISTRICT, COLLECTORATE COMPOUND, ONGOLE 523001 5. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, PANCHAYAT RAJ CIRCLE, ONGOLE, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. 523001 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PRI DIVISION, ONGOLE, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. 523001 7. THE PAY AND ACCOUNTS OFFICER, WORKS AND ACCOUNTS, NSP COLONY, ONGOLE. 523001 ...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 direction, more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS, declaring the action of the respondents in SRK, J W.P.No.9978 of 2026 2 non-payment of bills payable to the petitioner to a tune of Rs. 9,88,584/- (Rupees Nine Lakhs Eighty- Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Four Only) (Gross Amount) for the works 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 pay the bill amount of Rs. 9,88,584/- (Rupees Nine Lakhs Eighty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Four Only) (Gross Amount), for the work executed by the petitioner 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 consider the representation of the petitioner, dated 15/11/2025, and to release the withholding bill amount payable to the petitioner to a tune of Rs. 9,88,584/- [Rupees Nine Lakhs Eighty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Four Only] (Gross Amount), and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BANDLA PAVAN 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.9978 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 non-payment of bills payable to the petitioner to a tune of Rs.9,88,584/- for the works executed by the petitioner, as illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable, and consequently direct the respondents to pay the bill amount of Rs.9,88,584/- for the works executed by the petitioner 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, and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Finance and Planning, representing respondent Nos.2 and 7. 3. The Writ Petitioner claims to be a Civil Contractor. The respondents assigned works of construction of CC Roads in Thimmasamudram-2 Sachivalayam of N.G.Padu Mandal with an estimation of Rs.5.00 lakhs and construction of CC Roads in BC Colony of Thimmasamudram-2 Sachivalayam of N.G.Padu Mandal with an estimation of Rs.5.00 lakhs, to the Writ Petitioner. The Writ Petitioner entered into two Agreements with the respondents vide Agreement No./2023-24, dated 30.11.2023 and Agreement No./2023-24, dated SRK, J W.P.No.9978 of 2026 4 30.11.2023. The Writ Petitioner executed the works within time and the respondent authorities inspected the works and made entries in the M- Book. Though the Writ Petitioner completed the assigned contract works within time, an amount of Rs.9,88,584/- was kept pending by the respondent authorities. Even though the Writ Petitioner approached the respondent authorities on multiple occasions, and also made representation on 15.11.2025, requesting for payment of pending bill amount of Rs.9,88,584/-, they are not doing so. According to Writ Petitioner, having executed the works 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. Today when the matter is taken up for hearing, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on written instructions received from the Executive Engineer, PRI Division, Ongole, Prakasam District-6th respondent, submits that the Writ Petitioner executed the works as per the Agreements. Learned Assistant Government Pleader further submits that the Writ Petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.8,26,690/- after statutory deductions such as QC Recovery etc., aggregating to SRK, J W.P.No.9978 of 2026 5 Rs.1,46,140/-, and that soon after receipt of grant, the bill would be submitted to the PAO, Ongole for making payment to the Writ Petitioner. 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 the amount payable to him, and in view of the submission of the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, the respondent authorities are directed to pay net amount/admitted amount of Rs.8,26,690/- (Rupees Eight Lakhs Twenty Six Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety Only) to the Writ Petitioner within a period of Eight (8) 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 21st July, 2026. DNB Whether the Order is: Speaking ✓ Reasoned Reportable Non-reportable ✓