Judgment
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APHC010224862026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)
MONDAY, THE 31st DAY OF AUGUST 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 11756 OF 2026 Between:
1. PYNA SRINIVAS, S/o Venkanna, Ageed about 56 yrs Occ Contractor, Rio. D.No. 6-73/1, Kothapeta, Dowleswaram Village, Rajamahendravaram Rural Mandal, East Godavari District ...Petitioner AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, rep .by its Principal Secretary Irrigation Department, Secretariat, Guntur District, Amravati -522 238 (A.P.), 2. The Principle Secretary, Finance and Planning Dept, Govt of A.P Office at 1st flood, Block No-2, A.P Secreteriat, Velagapudi, Amaravathi-522 238 3. The District Collector, West Godavari District, Office at Maruthi' Nagar, Bhimavaram-534201 4. The Asst Executive Engineer, Canal Section (Irrigation), Settipeta, Nidadavolu, West Godavari District-534301
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The Deputy Executive Engineer, Delta Sub- Division, Tadepalligudem, West Godavari District. 534101 6. The Executive Engineer, G.W. Division, Nidadavole, West Godavari District. -534301 ...Respondents 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 topleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in Not Releasing the Admitted Bills to the Petitioner for work completed Restoration of Irrigation System for effective water regulation including Monitoring and Management to Pendyala Pumping Scheme, vide Agreement No. 126/2024-2025 for an amount of Rs. 8,67,758/- Dated 12-03-2025/- Total Amount of Rs. 8,67,758/- plus GST as illegal, arbitrary and Violation of principles of natural justice, consequently direct the Respondents to release the Admitted Bill Amounts to 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 pleased to direct the respondents herein, forthwith release the amount due to the petitioner herein, pursuant to the First and First and Final Bill for Rs. 8,67,758/- +
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GST with interest @ 18% P.A. till date of payment in the interest of Justice and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: CHAKRADHARA RAJA Y Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR IRRI AND CAD Counsel for the Respondents:GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following order:
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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K.SREENIVASA REDDY
WRIT PETITION NO.11756 OF 2026 ORDER:
This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:
“….to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in Not Releasing the Admitted Bills to the Petitioner for work completed Restoration of Irrigation System for effective water regulation including Monitoring and Management to Pendyala Pumping Scheme, vide Agreement No. 126/2024-2025 for an amount of Rs.
8,67,758/-Dated 12-03-2025/- Total Amount of Rs. 8,67,758/- plus GST as illegal, arbitrary and Violation of principles of natural justice, consequently direct the Respondents to release the Admitted Bill Amounts to the Petitioner and pass..….” 2.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development appearing for the respondents.
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Case of the petitioner is that he was entrusted with the aforesaid work and duly executed the same to the satisfaction of the authorities concerned. Upon completion of the work, the respondent authorities measured the work and recorded the measurements in the relevant Measurement Book. Despite completion of the work long ago, the respondent authorities have failed to release the admitted amounts payable to the petitioner. Aggrieved by the non-payment of the said amount, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.
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Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on written instructions dated 29.08.2026, from the Executive Engineer, G.W.Division, Dowlaiswaram, submitted that there is no dispute with regard to the execution of the subject works by the petitioner. He further submitted that as verified from the measurements recorded in the M. Book, the value of work works out to Rs.8,30,103/- only and the Quality Control authority have issued Q.C.Check Cerificate for Rs.8,30,103/- only. Hence, the petitioner is eligible to claim the final bill of Rs.8,30,103/- including recoveries of
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Rs.46,430/- and net amount of Rs.7,83,673/-The written instructions are placed on record.
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Since the amount payable is admitted and undisputed, the writ petition is maintainable. In M/s Utkal Highways Engineer and Contractors V. Chief General Manager & Ors1, it was held at paragraph No.8, as under:
“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”.
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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 the
1 2025 SCC online SC 1400
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admitted amount to the petitioner within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
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Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending if any, shall stand closed.
_______________________ K.SREENIVASA REDDY, J
Date: 31.08.2026.
PAB
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