Disposed¶36

B Sridhar Reddy v. the State of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh HC19 Jul 2026WP/10495/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Non-payment of contractor dues; Work Agreement No.275/2019-20; Giddaluru Nagar Panchayath; Prakasam District; tanker supply of privately procured water; Wards 1 to 20 unserved areas; Rs.31,18,682/-; M-Book entry; Slip of recommendation; final bill admitted by Municipality; funds awaited; writ of Mandamus; Article 226; Articles 14, 19 and 21; Section 151 CPC; I.A. No.1 of 2026; disposed at admission stage; six weeks timeline; Justice Harinath.N.

What did the court decide?

Direction to respondents to verify and release the payments due and payable to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably within six (6) weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; pending miscellaneous petitions closed. ¶36

B Sridhar Reddy Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should issue a writ of Mandamus declaring the respondents' inaction in paying Rs.31,18,682/- towards work under Work Agreement No.275/2019-20 (tanker supply of privately procured water to Wards 1-20) as arbitrary, illegal and violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21, and direct payment of the said amount.

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Court's answer

The writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage, directing the respondents to verify and release the payments due and payable to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible.

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Ratio / Principle

The payments are to be released preferably within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Key takeaways

There shall be no order as to costs.ratio¶36
Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand closed.ratio¶37

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition disposed of at admission stage: Contractor B Sridhar Reddy sought a writ of Mandamus against the State of Andhra Pradesh and Giddaluru Nagar Panchayath for inaction in paying Rs.31,18,682/- due under Work Agreement No.275/2019-20 for transportation of privately procured water through tankers to unserved areas in Wards Nos.1 to 20 of Giddaluru town, alleging violation of Articles 14, 19 and 21. The petitioner had completed the works; payment stood approved by the competent authority, recorded in the M-Book, quality certified and a Slip of recommendation for payment issued, but amounts remained unreleased. Standing Counsel for the Municipality admitted during hearing that the final bill was submitted and the dues acknowledged, with funds awaited. The Court disposed of the petition at the admission stage, directing the respondents to verify and release the payments as expeditiously as possible, preferably within six weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; pending miscellaneous petitions (including I.A. No.1 of 2026 under Section 151 CPC) closed.

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APHC010183842026

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[3457]

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

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(Special Original Jurisdiction)

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MONDAY, THE 20^th DAY OF JULY 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N

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WRIT PETITION NO: 10495/2026

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Between:

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B SRIDHAR REDDY, , S/O. GOPAL REDDY AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCC CONTRACTOR, R/O. D.NO.1-97, YEDAVALLI VILLAGE, RACHERALLA MANDAL, PRAKASAM DISTRICT.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS,VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522238

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THE STATE OF A P, REP., BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522238

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THE GIDDALURU NAGAR PANCHYATH, GIDDALURU, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. REP., BY ITS COMMISSIONER.523357

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THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, GIDDALURU NAGAR PANCHYATH GIDDALURU, PRAKASAM DISTRICT. 523357

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...RESPONDENT(S):

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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 order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction on part of the respondents in paying amount of Rs.31,18,682/- (Rupees Thirty One Lakhs Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Two only) towards work

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entrusted by the respondents in petitioner favour through the Work Agreement No.275/2019-20, for transportation of water though tankers with the private water in ward No.1 to 20 unserved areas in the town as arbitrary, illegal, colorable exercise of power, abdication of the statutory duty cost on them and contrary to the well established legal principles apart from being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the petitioner under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to pay the amount of Rs.31,18,682/- (Rupees Thirty One Lakhs Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Two only) towards the work entrusted by the respondents in petitioner favour for transportation of water though tankers with the private water in ward No.1 to 20 unserved areas in the town and pass

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IA NO: 1 OF 2026

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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 pay the amount of Rs.31,18,682/(Rupees Thirty One Lakhs Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Two only) towards the work entrusted by the respondents in petitioner favour for transportation of water though tankers with the private water in ward No.1 to 20 unserved areas in the town, pending disposal of the above Writ Petition and pass

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Counsel for the Petitioner:

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1.D VIGNESHWAR REDDY

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Counsel for the Respondent(S):

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1.GP FOR MUNCIPAL ADMN URBAN DEV

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2.GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING

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The Court made the following:

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Order:-

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The writ petition is filed aggrieved by the declaring the declaring the inaction on the part of the respondents in paying the amount of Rs.31,18,682/(Rupees Thirty-One Lakhs Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-Two only) towards the work entrusted by the respondents in favour of the petitioner under Work Agreement No.275/2019-20, for transportation of water through tankers containing privately procured water to the unserved areas in Wards Nos.1 to 20 of the town, towards the aforesaid work entrusted by the respondents in favour of the petitioner.

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It is submitted that the petitioner had completed the works entrusted to him and that the competent authority of the respondents had also approved the payment due and payable to the petitioner. The respondents have also recorded the progress of the works and the amounts due and payable to the petitioner in the M-Book. It is submitted that the competent respondent authority has certified the quality of the works completed by the petitioner and has also issued a Slip of recommendation for payment of bill. However, the respondents are yet to release the amounts due and payable to the petitioner.

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Heard the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Sri G. Lakshmi Narayana, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Municipality, and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Finance and Planning.

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During the course of hearing, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent Municipality submits that the works have been completed and that the petitioner has also submitted the final bill and the amounts due and payable to the petitioner have been duly admitted. It is submitted that further funds are awaited and that, soon after the release of the funds, the bill due and payable to the petitioner shall be cleared.

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Recording the submissions, this writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage, directing the respondents to verify and release the payments due and payable to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs.

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