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M/S. Sri Sai Teja Engineers Private Limited vs. The State Of Andhra Pradesh

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WP/30977/2025HC Andhra PradeshGSTCNR APHC01059344202501 December 2025Bench: V.SUJATHA8 pages
For Respondent: GP FOR IRRI AND CAD, GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING
AI SummaryAllowed

Facts

The petitioner, a private limited company, filed a writ petition seeking release of final bill amounts for irrigation works completed as per agreements. The respondents had issued quality control certificates but failed to release the payments, causing financial loss to the petitioner.

Held

The High Court directed the respondents to release the amounts due to the petitioner as per the quality control certificates within six months. The court also stated that any interest payable on delayed payments would be governed by the terms of the agreement.

Key Issues

The primary issue was the non-release of final bill payments by the government department for completed irrigation works, despite the issuance of quality control certificates.

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
APHC010593442025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3333] TUESDAY,THE SECOND DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA WRIT PETITION NO: 30977/2025 Between: 1. M/S. SRI SAI TEJA ENGINEERS PRIVATE LIMITED,, REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, P. UMA LAKSHMANA KUMAR S/O. SEETHARAMUDU, AGED 45 YEARS, OCC- CONTRACTOR, R/O. D.NO.5-97/1, RAJU VARRI PALEM, KOMARAGIRIPATNAM, ALLAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION AND CAD WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, A.P. SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR IRRIGATION WING, DR. 2 VS,J W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025 B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT, AMALAPURAM. 4. THE ENGINEER INCHIEF, , MINOR AND MAJOR IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, IRRIGATION BHAVAN, VIJAYAWADA, NTR DISTRICT. 5. THE COMMISSIONER, CADA, HANUMANPETA, VIJAYAWADA. 6. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IRRIGATION CIRCLE, DOWLESWARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 7. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, GODAVARI CENTRAL DIVISION, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AMALAPURAM, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): 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 Writ of Mandamus declare the inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill total amount worth of Rs.49,88,720/-, 1) Rs.3,64,365/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58883, dated 29.09.2025, 2) Rs.3,94,870/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58881, dated 26.09.2025, 3) Rs.3,94,870/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58886, dated 26.09.2025, 4) Rs.3,39,224/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58892, dated 07.10.2025, 5) Rs.3,64,117/- in respect of irrigation work vide (duality Control Certificate No.58891, dated 07.10.2024, 6) Rs.2,53,882/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58885, dated 26.09.2024, 7) Rs.1,58,165/- in 3 VS,J W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025 respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58745, dated 05.03.2025, 8) Rs.78,542/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58746, dated 15.07.2025, 9) Rs.3,95,023/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.59824, dated 19.05.2025, 10) Rs.4,42,396/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58979, dated 20.05.2025, 11) Rs.4,42,166/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58980, dated 20.05.2025, 12) Rs.3,30,715/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.59821, dated 12.05.2025, 13) Rs. 3,32,245/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No. 58981 dated 20.05.2025 14) Rs. 3,04,835/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control certificate No. 59822 dated 12.07.2025 and 15) Rs.3,93,315/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control certificate No. 59823 dated 12.07.2025 under Water Resources Department as per agreements to the petitioner til today and causing heavy loss with interest even though total work were completed as per the agreements as illegal, arbitrary and violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of The Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent to release the total final bill amount of Rs.49,88,720/- along with 18percent GST, for the works under Water Resources Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2025 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 releasing the Final Bill amount of Rs.49,88,720/- along with 18% GST under Water Resources Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith, pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 4 VS,J W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025 1. ANNAMNEEDI BALAKRISHNA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 2. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 5 VS,J W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025

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 Writ of Mandamus declare the inaction on part of the respondents herein not releasing the final bill total amount worth of Rs.49,88,720/-, 1) Rs.3,64,365/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58883, dated 29.09.2025, 2) Rs.3,94,870/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58881, dated 26.09.2025, 3) Rs.3,94,870/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58886, dated 26.09.2025, 4) Rs.3,39,224/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58892, dated 07.10.2025, 5) Rs.3,64,117/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58891, dated 07.10.2024, 6) Rs.2,53,882/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58885, dated 26.09.2024, 7) Rs.1,58,165/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58745, dated 05.03.2025, 8) Rs.78,542/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58746, dated 15.07.2025, 9) Rs.3,95,023/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.59824, dated 19.05.2025, 10) Rs.4,42,396/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58979, dated 20.05.2025, 11) Rs.4,42,166/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.58980, dated 20.05.2025, 12) Rs.3,30,715/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No.59821, dated 12.05.2025, 13) Rs. 3,32,245/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control Certificate No. 58981 dated 20.05.2025” 14) Rs. 3,04,835/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control certificate No. 59822 dated 12.07.2025 and 15) Rs.3,93,315/- in respect of irrigation work vide Quality Control certificate No. 59823 dated 12.07.2025 under Water Resources Department as per agreements to the petitioner till today and causing heavy loss with interest even though total work were completed as per the agreements as illegal, arbitrary and violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of The Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent to release the total final bill amount of Rs.49,88,720/- along with 18% GST, for the works under Water Resources Department as per agreement to the petitioner forthwith...”

W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025

2.

The petitioner had been awarded the contract of work(s) by the Irrigation Department. After execution of the said contract, the respondents also issued quality control certificates to a tune of Rs.3,93,345/-, Rs.3,04,835/-, Rs.3,32,245/-, Rs.3,30,715/-, Rs.4,42,166/-, Rs.4,42,396/-, Rs.3,95,023/-, Rs.78,542/-, Rs.1,58,165/-, Rs.2,53,882/-, Rs.3,64,117/-, Rs.3,39,224/-, Rs.3,94,870, Rs.2,03,694/-, Rs.3,64,355/- respectively. As the payment of the said amounts has not been made by the respondents, the petitioner has approached this Court by way of this writ petition.

3.

It is the contention of the petitioner that even though the respondents admitted that the petitioner is entitled for payment of the aforesaid sum of money, no payment is being made. The petitioner contends that such non-payment of money is clearly arbitrary and high-handed requiring the interference of this Court.

4.

This Court, in various orders, including the judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court dated 05.10.2021 in W.P.No.10038 of 2021 and batch had taken the view that such non-payment of dues is arbitrary and that such dues need to be cleared by the respondents at the earliest.

W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025

5.

On the other hand, learned Government Pleader placed oral instructions stated that since the budget was not released by the Government, the bills were not paid to the petitioner. Soon after release of the budget by the Government, the bills will be paid to the petitioner, however, admitted the amount payable to the petitioner as per the quality control certificates filed by the petitioner to a tune of Rs.3,93,345/-, Rs.3,04,835/-, Rs.3,32,245/-, Rs.3,30,715/-, Rs.4,42,166/-, Rs.4,42,396/-, Rs.3,95,023/-, Rs.78,542/-, Rs.1,58,165/-, Rs.2,53,882/-, Rs.3,64,117/-, Rs.3,39,224/-, Rs.3,94,870, Rs.2,03,694/-, Rs.3,64,355/- respectively.

6.

In view of the facts and circumstances submitted in the affidavit, and the directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to release the amount to the petitioner in accordance with the quality control certificates dated 12.06.2025, 12.08.2025, 20.05.2025, 12.05.2025, 20.05.2025, 20.05.2025, 12.05.2025, 15.01.2025, 15.03.2025, 26.09.2025, 07.10.2025, 07.10.2025, 26.09.2025, 26.09.2025 and 26.09.2025 issued by the W.P.NO.30977 OF 2025 respondents within a period of six (06) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

7.

As far as interest component is concerned, if there is any subsisting clause in the agreement/work order envisaging payment of interest upon any amount which is due and payable, the same is binding upon both the parties.

8.

Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.

____________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA Date :02.12.2025 LSP

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.