D. Venkata Ramanaiah, Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

D. Venkata Ramanaiah, Vs The State of Andhra… — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief adjudicated or granted by the Court; the writ petition was closed upon recording that the respondents had paid the amounts due to the petitioner during pendency, with no order as to costs, and pending interlocutory applications were directed to stand closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the action of the respondents in withholding payment of amounts payable to the petitioner for execution of Neeru Chettu works (jungle clearance and de-silting of Erravanka near Thollamadugu Village, Kolimigundla Mandal, Kurnool District) for the year 2018-19 under Agreement No.1779 dated 05.06.2018 was illegal, arbitrary and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, and whether the respondents should be directed to pay Rs.8,33,413/- due to the petitioner.

Court's answer

Pending the writ petition, the respondent authorities paid the amounts due to the petitioner; the Court recorded this position and, without adjudicating the merits of the Article 14 challenge, treated the grievance as satisfied.

Ratio / Principle

Recording the payment made during pendency, the writ petition is closed, with no order as to costs; pending interlocutory applications stand closed as a sequel.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (Article 226) - D. Venkata Ramanaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh and irrigation/finance authorities - W.P.No.1945 of 2022 (High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Special Original Jurisdiction) - decided 23.09.2025 by Justice V. Sujatha. Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus declaring illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 the respondents' withholding of Rs.8,33,413/- due to him for execution of Neeru Chettu works (jungle clearance and de-silting of Erravanka near Thollamadugu Village, Kolimigundla Mandal, Kurnool District) for 2018-19 under Agreement No.1779 dated 05.06.2018, and consequential direction to pay that sum; ancillary application under Section 151 CPC sought interim payment. On admission (21.04.2022) the Court had directed respondents, in I.A.No.1 of 2022, to pay the approved and final bill amount within six weeks. At the final hearing counsel for the petitioner stated that, pending the writ petition, the respondent authorities had paid the amounts due. Recording this, the Court closed the writ petition with no order as to costs and sequenced closure of pending interlocutory applications. No adjudication on the merits of the legality/arbitrariness claim was made; no precedents were cited.

APHC010027832022

[3333]

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

TUESDAY, T H E TWENTY THIRD DAY OF SEPTE M BER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE V.SUJATHA

WRIT PETITION NO: 1945/2022

Between:

D. VENKATA RA M ANAIAH,, S/O. CHANDRANARAY A NA, AGED 42 YEARS, R/O. D. NO. 1-33/A, THOLLAMADUGU (V), K O LIMIGUNDLA (M), KURNOOL DI S TRICT.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESE N TED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECR E TARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, S ECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELA G APUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESE N TED BY ITS SECRETARY, I R RIGATION DEPARTMENT, S ECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VEL A GAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE ENGINEERI N CHIEF, IRRIGATION AND CAD D EPARTMENT, VIJAYAWADA, KRI S HNA DISTRICT.

THE EXECUTIVE E NGINEER, WATER RESOURCES D EPARTMENT, M.I. WORKS DIVIS I ON, NANDYAL, KURNOOL DISTRI C T.

THE DEPUTY EXE C UTIVE ENGINEER, MI SUB DIVISI O N, NANDYAL, KURNOOL DISTRI C T.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Artic l e 226 of the Constitution of India pr a ying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the Hig h Court may be pleased topleased to iss u e an order, writ or direction, more p a rticularly one in

2

VS,J W.P.No.1945 of 2022

the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in withholding the payment of amounts payable to the petitioner in relation to the execution of works i.e., Neeru Chettu for jungle clearance and de-silting of Erravanka near Thollamadugu Village, Kolimigundla Mandal of Kurnool District, for the year 2018-19 vide Agreement No. 1779 dated 05.06.2018 as illegal, arbitrary, in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to pay an amount of Rs.8,33,413/- due to the petitioner in respect of execution of afore mentioned works forthwith and to pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2022

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 to take steps for paying the amount of Rs.8,33,413/- due to the petitioner, pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.GINJUPALLI SUBBA RAO

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING

2.GP FOR IRRIGATION COMM AREA DEV

3

VS,J

W.P.No.1945 of 2022

The Court made the following Order:

The present Writ Petition came to be filed under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India seeking the following relief:-

“… to issue an order, writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in withholding the payment of amounts payable to the petitioner in relation to the execution of works i.e., Neeru Chettu for jungle clearance and de-silting of Erravanka near Thollamadugu Village, Kolimigundla Mandal of Kurnool District, for the year 2018-19 vide Agreement No.1779 dated 05.06.2018 as illegal, arbitrary, in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to pay an amount of Rs.8,33,413/- due to the petitioner in respect of execution of afore mentioned works forthwith and to pass such other order or orders ….”

When the writ petition came up for admission on 21.04.2022, this

Court was pleased to pass the following interim direction in I.A.No.1 of

2022:

“ In the circumstances, the respondents are directed to pay the approved and final bill amount due to the petitioner within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. ”

Today, when the writ petition came up for hearing, Mr. Ramesh Babu Tatapudi, learned counsel representing Mr. Ginjupalli Subba Rao, learned

counsel for the petitioner has stated that, pending writ petition, the respondent authorities have paid the amounts due to the petitioner.

Recording the same, this Writ Petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

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VS,J W.P.No.1945 of 2022

As a sequel, Interlocutory Applications pending, if any, shall stand

closed

__________________ JUSTICE V.SUJATHA

Dated: 23.09.2025 MDP