P Padda Raju Vs the State of Ap — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

P Padda Raju Vs the State of Ap — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None on merits; the writ petition was closed (nothing surviving for adjudication as the dues had been paid during pendency), with no order as to costs, and pending interlocutory applications, if any, were directed to stand closed. The legality of the initial non-payment was not adjudicated.

Issue for consideration

Whether the action of the respondents in not releasing payment of the pending final bills (aggregating Rs.47,91,221/-) for the four road-maintenance works executed by the petitioner was illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, warranting a writ of mandamus. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Recording the submission of learned counsel for the petitioner that the respondent authorities had paid the amounts due during the pendency of the writ petition and that nothing survived for adjudication, the Court closed the writ petition and made no order as to costs.

Key takeaways

As a sequel to the closure of the writ petition, interlocutory applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition No. 17653 of 2024 (High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati; Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao; 17.02.2026): A petitioner-contractor, invoking Article 226, sought a writ of mandamus directing the State (Roads and Buildings / Finance Departments) to release pending final bills totalling Rs.47,91,221/- for four road-maintenance works executed by him (MDR/ordinary maintenance of roads in R&B Sections Bhimavaram and Palakoderu for 2023-24, under M.Book.Nos. 6511A, 6212A, 6531A and 6469A), alleging the non-release to be illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Pending consideration of the petition, the respondent authorities paid the amounts due; on learned counsel's submission that nothing survived for adjudication, the Court closed the writ petition, made no order as to costs, and directed that interlocutory applications pending, if any, stand closed. The legality of the initial non-payment was left unadjudicated; no precedent was cited or relied upon.

APHC010347262024

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

[3330]

TUESDAY, T H E SEVENTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TW O THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION No. 17653/2024

BETWEEN:

P PADDA RAJU, S/o. KRISHNAM RAJU, AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS, OCC: CONTRACTOR, R/o. D .NO.2-180, MERLAPALEM VILLAGE, ATREYAPURAM MANDAL, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE O F AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL S E CRETARY, ROADS AND BUILDINGS (R AND B) DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, THULLUR MANDAL, GUN T UR DISTRICT.

THE STATE O F ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SE C RETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, A MARAVATHI THULLUR MANDA L , GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE CHIEF ENGINEER R AND B DEPARTMENT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, AP R DC, 5TH FLOOR, R AND B HEA D OFFICE IN STATE BUILDING, M.G. ROAD, VI J AYAWADA, N.T.R.DISTRIC T .

THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEERR AND B, R AND B CIRCLE, ELUR U , ELURU DISTRICT.

THE EXECU T IVE ENGINEER, R AND B DIVISION, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

...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 to issue a Writ, Order, or Direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS or any other appropriate writ or direction declaring the action of the respondents in not releasing the payment for the work i.e., 1) Maintenance of MDR Roads in (R and B) Section, Bhimavaram for the year 2023-24 for an amount of Rs.10,82,714/- vide M.Book.No.6511A through the Agreement DR. No.72/2023-24, dated 21.08.2023, 2) Ordinary Maintenance of Tanuku - Bhimavaram Road from Km 25.450 to 37.030 in (R and B) Section Palakoderu for the year 2023-24 for an amount of Rs.5,28,881/vide M.Book.No.6212A vide agreement dated 19.12.2023, 3) Maintenance of MDR Roads in (R and B) Section Palakoderu for the year 2023-24 for an amount of Rs.9,02,414/-vide M.Book.No.6531Athrough Agreement DR No.73/2023-24 dated 21.08.2023 and 4) Ordinary Maintenance of SH Roads in (R and B) Section, Bhimavaram for the year 2023-24 for an amount of Rs.22,77,212/- vide M.Book.No.6469A vide agreement dated 19.12.2023, for an total pending amount of Rs.47,91,221/-, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Art 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent authorities to release for the pending final bills forthwith for the above said works executed by the petitioner and to pass such other order or orders.

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.ANNAMNEEDI BALAKRISHNA

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.GP FOR ROADS BUILDINGS

2.GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING

The Court made the following:

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ORDER:

The present writ petition is filed aggrieved by the action of the respondents in not paying the bill amounts despite execution of the work.

Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that pending consideration of the Writ Petition, the respondent authorities have paid amounts due to the petitioner and nothing survives in the Writ Petition for adjudication. Hence, prayed to close the Writ Petition.

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

As a sequel thereto, Interlocutory Applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.

__________________________________ JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO

Date: 17.02.2026

Harin

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131

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO

W.P.No. 17653 OF 2024

Date: 17-02-2026

Harin