APHC010308472026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE 22nd DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 16464 OF 2026 Between: 1. Vajrala Srinivasa Reddy, S/o.Venkata Reddy, Aged about 48 years, Occ Contractor, Rio. D.No. 2-21, Near JIO Towers, Lakshmipuram Village, Karempudi Mandal, Palnadu District, Pincode 522415. ...Petitioner AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District, Pincode 522238. 2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of Finance and Planning, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District, Pincode 522238. 3. The Commissioner, Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Tadepalli, Guntur District, Pincode 522501. 4. The Engineer in Chief, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Gollapudi, Vijayawada, NTR District, Pincode 521225. 2 5. The Superintending Engineer, RWS and S Circle, Guntur, Guntur District, Pincode 522001. 6. The Executive Engineer, RWS and S Division, Narasaraopet, Palnadu District, Pincode 522601. 7. The Pay and Accounts Officer Works, Narasaraopet, Palnadu District, Pincode 522601. 8. The Chief ExecutiveOfficer, APCFSS, 3rd Floor, Nidhi Bhavan, Behind APIIC Building, Mangalagiri, Guntur District, Pincode 522503. ...Respondents Counsel for the Petitioner: MODAPOTHULA SUMALATHA Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV Counsel for the Respondents:GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following order: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K.SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.16464 OF 2026 O R D E R This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief: “….may be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents not releasing the amount of Rs 15,32,886/ even after finalizing the bills payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i e Providing Drinking Water Facilities through 100% FHTCs to Gangireddypalli Habitation in Veldurthi Mandal vide Agreement No /2023-24 dated 27.10.2023 is questioned as the same is illegal arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to pay for payment of amount of Rs 15,32,886/ to the petitioner in respect of execution of above mentioned work forthwith and pass such…” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development appearing for the respondents. 3. It is the case of the petitioner that he was awarded a contract for execution of the works viz. providing drinking water facilities through 100% FHTCs to Gangireddypalli Habitation in Veldurthi Mandal. It is the case of the petitioner that he deposited the requisite security amount and executed the works to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned, and upon completion of the works, the respondent authorities 4 measured the same and recorded the measurements in the Measurement Books. 4. It is the grievance of the petitioner that notwithstanding the completion of the works and its measurement by the competent authorities, the amount due towards the executed works has not been paid till date. According to the petitioner, although the works were completed long back, the respondent authorities are not releasing the admitted amount payable to him. Aggrieved by the non-payment of the said amount, the petitioner filed the present Writ Petition. 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on instructions received from the Executive Engineer, RWS&S Division, Narasaraopet (6th respondent), submits that there is no dispute regarding the execution of the subject works by the petitioner. He further submits that the bill has already been released and that its processing in the CFMS is presently under process. 6. 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: 1 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1400 5 “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.” 7. Having regard to the fact that there is no dispute with regard to the works executed by the petitioner and the amount payable to him, and in view of the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, the respondent authorities are directed to pay a sum of 15,32,886/- to the petitioner within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, the interlocutory applications pending if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Date: 22.07.2026. PAB 6 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:16464 of 2026 Date: 22.07.2026 PAB