Page No.# 1/4 GAHC010279522025 2026:GAU-AS:6786 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/147/2026 M S KAUSTAV SAIKIA H.NO-7, 1ST FLOOR, BYE LANE -5, SREENAGAR, R.G BARUAH ROAD, GUWAHATI- 05, REP. BY ITS PROP. KAUSTAV SAIKIA, AGED 39 YRS, S/O- KULDIP KUMAR SAIKIA. ASSAM VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ORS REP. BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI-06, ASSAM 2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST AND HEAD OF FOREST ASSAM PANJABARI GUWAHATI 781037 3:THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS O/O THE PCCF WILDLIFE AND CHIEF WILDLIFE WARDEN ASSAM ARANYA BHAWAN PANJABARI GUWAHATI-37 4:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER ASSAM STATE ZOO DIVISION GUWAHATI Page No.# 2/4 ASSA For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. A. Das, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Mr. R.R. Gogoi, Standing Counsel BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH ORDER Date : 15.05.2026 Heard Mr. A. Das, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner and Mr. R.R. Gogoi, the learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department appearing on behalf of all the Respondents. 2. The case of the Petitioner herein is that the Petitioner on being awarded a work order dated 22.07.2021 for “executing minor works at Assam State Zoo, Guwahati”, executed the same to the satisfaction of the Respondent Authorities. In that connection, the Respondent No. 4 on 08.08.2022 also issued a completion certificate. It is the further case of the Petitioner that as the final bill amount of Rs. 20,32,850/- has not yet been released to the Petitioner, in spite of repeated approaches and representations, the Petitioner is before this Court seeking a direction to the Respondent Authorities to release the said amount. Page No.# 3/4 3. Mr. R.R. Gogoi, the learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department submitted that the entitlement of the Petitioner would depend upon verification to be carried out by the Respondent Authorities. 4. Upon perusal of the materials on record, this Court is of the opinion that if the Petitioner had completed the above- mentioned work as per the terms and conditions agreed upon, the Petitioner should be paid the amount to which the Petitioner is entitled to. However, for the same, verification on the part of the Respondent Authorities would be required. 5. This Court, therefore, disposes of the instant writ petition with the following observations and directions:- i) The Respondent Authorities shall verify as to whether the Petitioner had successfully executed the work, i.e. “executing minor works at Assam State Zoo, Guwahati”. ii) The Respondent Authorities shall also verify as to whether the Petitioner had submitted the requisite documents which are required for the purpose of releasing the amount due as claimed by the Petitioner. iii) The Respondent Authorities shall also verify the entitlement of the Petitioner to the dues, and if upon verification in the manner stated above, it is found that the Page No.# 4/4 Petitioner is entitled to any such amount, the Respondent Authorities shall pay the same to the Petitioner. iv) The above exercise be completed within a period of 6 (six) months from the date a certified copy of the instant order is served upon the Respondent No.2, i.e. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Guwahati. JUDGE Comparing Assistant