Disposed¶42

Laxmi Photo Studio v. the State of Ap

Andhra Pradesh HC4 May 2026WP/188/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: videography services General Elections 2024; Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency; Srikakulam District; payment of Rs.4,21,000/-; CFMS portal; Budget Ledger Maintenance (BLM); G.O.RT.No.677 dated 30.03.2026; recommendation letter dated 05.07.2024; writ of mandamus; Article 226; Articles 14 and 21; Section 151 CPC; IA No. 1 of 2026; M/s Laxmi Photo Studio; Vaddi Laxmi; Justice Sumathi Jagadam; WP No.188/2026; release of sanctioned amount within three weeks; disposed, no costs.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the respondents to release the already sanctioned amount of Rs.4,21,000/- to the petitioner within three (3) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; miscellaneous applications pending, if any, stand closed. ¶42

Laxmi Photo Studio Vs the State of Ap — Writ and Judicial Review | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶42

Issue for consideration

Whether the action of the respondents in not paying Rs.4,21,000/- to the petitioner for providing videography for conducting the General Elections to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly - 2024 (Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency, Srikakulam District) is illegal, irregular and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, warranting a writ of mandamus directing payment. +1 more

¶19

Court's answer

Having perused the material available on record, the Court found the petitioner's claim to be well founded.

¶40

Ratio / Principle

The arrangement of videography services for the smooth conduct of the 2024 General Elections is evident from the material papers filed, and the fact remained that the Government had already sanctioned the amount of Rs.4,21,000/- for clearance vide G.O.RT.No.677, dated 30.03.2026.

¶40

Key takeaways

Without delving into other aspects, the Court deemed it appropriate to dispose of the Writ Petition by directing the respondents to release the already sanctioned amount of Rs.4,21,000/- to the petitioner within three (3) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati, WRIT PETITION No.188 of 2026 (Smt Justice Sumathi Jagadam, 05.05.2026): Writ of mandamus under Article 226 by M/s Laxmi Photo Studio (proprietor Vaddi Laxmi) seeking payment of Rs.4,21,000/- for videography services rendered for the General Elections to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly - 2024, Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency, Srikakulam District, alleged to be violative of Articles 14 and 21. Written instructions of the 3rd respondent (Rc.No. 13/2026, dated 05.05.2026) showed the bills were prepared and submitted but could not be uploaded/processed in the CFMS portal for want of the Budget Ledger Maintenance (BLM) Service. The Court found the petitioner's claim well founded, noted the amount had already been sanctioned vide G.O.RT.No.677, dated 30.03.2026, and disposed of the petition directing the respondents to release the sanctioned amount within three (3) weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; pending miscellaneous applications closed.

¶1

APHC010709302025

¶2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3459] (Special Original Jurisdiction)

¶3

TUESDAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

¶4

PRESENT

¶5

THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM

¶6

WRIT PETITION No.188 OF 2026

¶7

Between:

¶8

M/s.LAXMI PHOTO STUDIO, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR VADDI LAXMI, W/O SATISH BABU, AGED 47 YEARS, OCC OWNER OF LAXMI PHOTO STUDIO, R/O DOOR NO.7-119, KAMESWARI NAGAR, OPP. VETERINARY HOSPITAL, KHAJIPETA, ARASAVILLI, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT - 532 401.

¶9

...PETITIONER

¶10

AND

¶11

THE STATE OF AP, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522238.

¶12

DISTRICT COLLECTOR-CUM-DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT AT SRIKAKULAM-532001.

¶13

TAHSILDAR CUM ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER, NO.6, AMADALAVALASA AC, AMADALAVALASA MANDAL, SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT - 532 185.

¶14

THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER AND EX-OFFICIO PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, ROOM NO.192, GROUND FLOOR, BUILDING NO.5, AP SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522 238.

¶15

STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522 238.

¶16

...RESPONDENT(S):

¶17

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

¶18

¶19

particularly in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the Respondents in not paying Rs.4,21,000/- (Four Lakhs Twenty One Thousand Rupees Only) to the petitioner for providing videography for conducting General Elections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly - 2024 for Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency in Srikakulam District, as illegal, irregular, violative of Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to pay the amount of Rs.4,21,000/- (Four Lakhs Twenty One Thousand Rupees Only) to the petitioner for providing videography for conducting General Elections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly - 2024 for Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency in Srikakulam District forthwith

¶20

IA NO: 1 OF 2026

¶21

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 to direct the respondents to pay the amount of Rs.4,21,000/- (Four Lakhs Twenty One Thousand Rupees Only) to the petitioner for providing videography for conducting General Elections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly - 2024 for Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency in Srikakulam District forthwith, pending disposal of the main writ petition

¶22

Counsel for the Petitioner:

¶23

1.SRINIVAS AMBATI

¶24

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

¶25

1.D S SIVADARSHAN

¶26

2.GP FOR REVENUE

¶27

3.GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING

¶28

The Court made the following:

JS, J

WP No.188/2026

ORDER :

Heard the arguments of learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, and Sri G. Rohith, learned Standing Counsel, appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 and 3.

¶34

2. This Writ Petition is filed by the petitioner seeking a direction to the respondents for release of Rs.4,21,000/- towards the services rendered for arranging the video cameras and videographers for the General Elections, 2024 of Amadalavalasa Assembly Constituency in Srikakulam District.

¶35

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that despite of utilization of services and recommendation letter, dated 05.07.2024, from the 3^rd respondent to the 2^nd respondent, the subject amount has remained un-paid for over two years.

¶36

4. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, appearing on behalf of the respondents, has placed on record the written instructions of the 3^rd respondent vide proceedings in Rc.No. 13/2026, dated 05.05.2026, wherein it is stated that although the bills were prepared and submitted but the same could not be uploaded and processed in the CFMS portal due to non-availability of the Budget Ledger Maintenance (BLM) Service. The respondents further seek time for release of the amount.

JS, J

WP No.188/2026

5. Having perused the material available on record, this Court finds that the petitioner’s claim is well founded. The arrangement of videography services for the smooth conduct of 2024 General Elections is evident from the material papers filed. However, the fact remained is that vide G.O.RT.No.677, dated 30.03.2026, the Government has already sanctioned the amount of Rs.4,21,000/- for clearance.

¶41

6. In view of the above and without delving into other aspects, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the Writ Petition by directing the respondents to release the already sanctioned amount of Rs.4,21,000/- to the petitioner within three (3) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶42

7. Accordingly, with the above observation, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No order as to costs.

¶43

As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.

¶44

_________________________ JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM

¶45

Date: 05.05.2026 DSH

Laxmi Photo Studio v. the State of Ap

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Laxmi Photo Studio v. the State of Ap

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

B.Pedda Virupakshi, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh

Gummalla Rajaiah Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh

Yanamala Venkata Kishore Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh

B N Rangaiah Vs the State of Ap

Tenapalli Prakash Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh

Errampalli Jeevarathnamma Vs the State of Andhra Pradesh