S.V.S. Engineering and Company Vs the State… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

S.V.S. Engineering and Company Vs the State… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief adjudicated or granted on merits; the writ petition was closed because the respondents paid the amount to the petitioner after filing of the petition; no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents' action in not releasing the balance amount of Rs.1,01,724/- (vide M.Book No.283/B/TW/14), even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner for the drinking water works at Boyanna Swamy Gudem, Dornala Mandal, Prakasam District (Proceedings Rc.No.A2/2470/2019, dated 04.01.2020), was illegal and arbitrary, and whether the petitioner was entitled to payment of the balance amount with interest @ 24% per annum.

Court's answer

Since the respondents paid the amount to the petitioner pursuant to filing of the writ petition, no orders were necessary to be passed on the relief sought; accordingly the writ petition was closed with no order as to costs, without adjudication of the merits.

Ratio / Principle

As a sequel to the closure of the writ petition, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition shall stand closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (K. Sreenivasa Reddy, J.), Writ Petition No.16726 of 2024, decided 10.09.2025 — The petitioner-contractor (S.V.S. Engineering and Company) sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 declaring illegal and arbitrary the respondents' non-release of the balance amount of Rs.1,01,724/- (M.Book No.283/B/TW/14) despite finalisation of bills, for providing drinking water facilities to Boyanna Swamy Gudem, Dornala Mandal, Prakasam District (Proceedings Rc.No.A2/2470/2019, dated 04.01.2020), and prayed for payment with interest @ 24% per annum. At hearing, counsel for the petitioner (Smt. M. Sumalatha for Sri Bathala Ramesh) informed the Court that pursuant to filing of the petition the respondents had paid the amount and no orders were necessary. The Court, without adjudicating the merits and without considering any precedent, closed the writ petition with no order as to costs; pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, stood closed as a sequel.

APHC010330182024

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction)

WEDNESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY

WRIT PETITION NO: 16726 OF 2024

Between:

S.V.S. ENGINEERING AND COMPANY, Rep. by its Proprietor S V Subrahmanyam, S/o. Bala Seshaiah, Aged about 58 years, Occ Contractor, R/o. H.No.7-271, Nehru Bazar, Markapur, Prakasam District, Pincode 523316

...Petitioner

AND

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare Department, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District.

The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of Finance and Planning, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravathi, Guntur District.

The Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Srisailam, Kumool District.

The Executive Engineer, Tribal Welfare, Srisailam, Kumool District.

The Deputy Executive Engineer, Tribal Welfare, Sub Division, Srisailam, Kumool District.

The Chief Executive Officer, AP CFMS Office, 6th Floor, C- Block, Anjaneya Towers, Ibrahimpatnam, Krishna District.

...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 to issue a writ of mandamus or any

SRK, J WP No.16726 of 2024

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other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the Respondents not releasing the payment of balance amount as Rs.1,01,724/- vide M Book No.283/B/TW/14, even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i.e., Providing Drinking water facilities to Boyanna Swamy gudem, Dornala Mandal, Prakasam District, vide Procgs.Rc.No. A2/2470/2019, dated 04.01.2020 is questioned, as the same is illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to pay the balance amount Rs. 1,01,724/- vide M Book No.283/B/TW/14 with interest @ 24% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above-mentioned work forthwith.

Counsel for the Petitioner: BATHALA RAMESH

Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING

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The Court made the following ORDER:

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking the following relief.

“…to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or direction declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the balance amount of Rs.1,01,724/-, vide M.Book No.283/B/TW/14, even after finalizing the bills, payable to the petitioner in relation to the works i.e., providing drinking water facilities to Boyanna Swamy Gudem, Dornala Mandal, Prakasam District, vide Proceedings Rc.No.A2/2470/2019, dated 04.01.2020, as illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to pay the balance amount of Rs.1,01,724/-, vide M Book No.283/B/TW/14, with interest @ 24% per annum for the delayed amount to the petitioner in respect of execution of above mentioned work forthwith.”

Today, when the matter came up for hearing, Smt. M. Sumalatha, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Sri Bathala Ramesh, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that, pursuant to filing of the present Writ Petition, the respondents have paid the amount to the petitioner, hence no orders are necessary to be passed in the present Writ Petition.

In view of the said reason, the Writ Petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

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As a sequel thereto, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.

K. SREENIVASA REDDY, J.

Date:10.09.2025 Nsr

SRK, J WP No.16726 of 2024

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HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. SREENIVASA REDDY

Writ Petition No.16726 of 2024

Date:10.09.2025

Nsr