A Lakshmana Rao vs. The State Of Andhra Pradesh
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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
The Court made the following order : Heard Sri Annamneedi Balakrishna, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri P. Rajesh Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development & Finance and Planning Department, for respondents 1, 2 and 4 to 7 and Sri Mallikarjuna Murthy, learned standing counsel for respondent No.3. 2. The above writ petition was filed to declare the action of the respondents in not releasing the amount of Rs.80,00,000/- payable to the petitioner in relation to the works executed by him under Non-OTS Critical Infrastructure Grant, i.e. 1) Land Levelling 1st stage in YSR Jagananna Housing Colony, Chinakaragraharam Block-III (Sector-C) layout in Machilipatnam (Urban) (Layout ID 068101LA114093) Part-9 and 2) Land Levelling 1st stage in YSR Jagananna Housing Colony, Chinakaragraharam Block-III (Sector-C) layout in Machilipatnam (Urban) (Layout ID 068101LA114093) Part-10, as illegal and arbitrary.
Today when the matter is taken up, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, submitted instructions of the Executive Engineer (FAC), PRI Division, Machilipatnam.
A perusal of the said instructions would disclose that the petitioner has executed the aforementioned works for a total value of Rs.54,27,376/- and the net amount payable to the petitioner after QC / statutory recovery of Rs.14,81,108/-, is Rs.39,46,268/-. The written instructions are made as part of the record.
Learned counsel for the petitioner endorses the same.
Thus, as seen from the instructions there is no dispute regarding the execution of the aforementioned work and the petitioner’s entitlement for Rs.39,46,268/-. 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: “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 juri iction. 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.”
Given the instructions furnished by the Executive Engineer (FAC), PRI Division, Machilipatnam, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing the respondents to release the amount of Rs.39,46,268/- (Rupees Thirty Nine Lakhs Forty Six Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Eight only) payable to the petitioner regarding execution of aforementioned work, within four (04) months from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. No order as to costs. As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed.
___________________________ JUSTICE SUBBA REDDY SATTI Date: 13.03.2026 IKN
1 2025 SCC online SC 1400
Reproduced from the public record of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.