APHC010432892026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE 25th DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 23680/2026 Between: KOTAGIRI SRIDHAR, AGE 55 YEARS, OCC. CONTRACTOR R/O. D. NO. 2-50, LINGAPALEM VILLAGE AND MANDAL, ELURU DISTRICT- 543362. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP, BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, AGRICULTURAL AND CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522237. 2. THE COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR, OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF ANDHRA PRADESH, CHUTTUGUNTA, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522002. 3. THE REGISTRAR, CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SYAMALA NAGAR, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522006. 4. THE DISTRICT COOPERATIVE OFFICER, NTR COMPLEX, 3RD FLOOR, APSARA THEATER ROAD, VIJAYAWADA-520002. 5. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR APCOB, AP STATE COOPERATIVE BANK, D.NO. 27-29-28, NTR SAHAKARA BHAVAN, HELP HOSPITAL ROAD, GOVERNOR PET, VIJAYAWADA-520002. 6. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, O/O. COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF ANDHRA PRADESH, GUNTUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522002. 7. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CEO, EAST MADHAVARAM FAGS, EAST MADHAVARAM VILLAGE, A KONDURU MANDAL, NTR DISTRICT-521215. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. KARUPOLU NARASIMHA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. S BRAHMANANDA REDDY 2 2. GP FOR AGRICULTURE 3. GP FOR COOPERATION The Court made the following: ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer for: “.... a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the balance bill amounts of Rs.33,22,198/- out of Rs. 89,71,344.87 ps for the work executed by the petitioner in pursuance of the Agreement No.10 / 2025-26 dt.17-4-2025 as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently declare that the petitioner is entitled for release of balance bill amounts of Rs.33,22,198/- out of Rs.89,71,344.87 ps., for the work executed by the petitioner along with interest.” 2. Heard Sri Karupolu Narasimha Rao, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Ms.M.Sandhya Deepthi, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture. 3. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture, on written instructions, would submit that the Petitioner has successfully completed the work “construction of balance work of 500 MT capacity multipurpose facilitation centers (MPFC) along with Drying Platforms at East Madhavaram(V) of East Madhavaram PACs in NTR District. The LS 1st and part bill was submitted to the Superintending Engineer’s office on 29.07.2025 for gross amount of Rs.19.01 lakhs and from SE(AM), Guntur Office the bill was submitted to the District Co-operative Officer, NTR district on 04.08.2025. and the bill was pending at District Co-Operative Officer, NTR District. The LS 2nd and final bill was submitted to the SE office on 23.03.2026, for gross amount of Rs.13.76 lakhs and further, from SE office the bill was submitted to the District Co-operative Officer, NTR District on 26.03.2026 and the bill was 3 pending at District Co-operative Officer, NTR District. It is further submitted that there is no dispute regarding the quantum of the amount claimed by the Petitioner in this matter. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture placed the written instructions of the District Co-operative Officer to the effect that, in view of the Society’s prolonged inaction and failure to act upon the certified bills for over eight months, the Divisional Cooperative Officer, Vijayawada was constrained to issue a show-cause notice on 04.05.2026 directing the Chief Executive Officer of East Madhavaram PACS to show cause regarding the inordinate delay. In response, they have repeatedly urged the Chairperson of the PACS to pass requisite resolutions. Because of poor financial condition of the Society, they sought for additional time. The Divisional Co-operative Officer, Vijayawada on 19.08.2026 issued a direction to the Chairman of Non-Official Person In-charge Committee of the East Madhavaram, PACS to make necessary arrangement for release of the bill amount for the value of Rs.33,01,101/- to the Petitioner within 10 days from the date of receipt of the direction. It is further submitted that the petition may be disposed of granting six weeks time to clear the amount due to the Petitioner. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that, recording the submissions of the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture, the petition may be disposed of. 5. In the light of the submissions made, since there is no dispute regarding payment of the amount and the Respondents are just seeking some time to 4 clear the bill, it is apposite to dispose of the present petition granting six weeks time to the Respondents to clear the payment due to the Petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of directing the Respondents to clear the amount due to the Petitioner, within six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. ________________________________________ Dr.JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date:25.08.2026 Dinesh 5 HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA W.P.No.23680 of 2026 Dt.25.08.2026 Dinesh