Disposed

Pradip Kumar Das v. the State of Assam and 6 Ors.

Gauhati HC15 Feb 2024WP(C)/2827/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner sought payment of contractual dues for road improvement work. Court noted verification gaps regarding the petitioner's name in payment lists but directed further verification and subsequent payment of admitted dues within three months.

What did the court decide?

Direction to Chief Engineer, PWD Roads to verify claim and pay admitted amount within three months.

Pradip Kumar Das Vs the State of Assam and 6 Ors. — Service and Employment | Gauhati HC (2024)

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GAHC010080692022

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THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

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Case No. : WP(C)/2827/2022

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PRADIP KUMAR DAS S/O-LATE ABHAY CHARAN DAS R/O- FATASIL AMBARI, NRIPEN BORA ROAD GUWAHATI-781025 DIST- KAMRUP (M), ASSAM

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 6 ORS

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REP. BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SPECIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DISPUR, GUWAHATI-781006 KAMRUP (M), ASSAM

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2:THE DEPUTY SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM PUBLIC WORKS (ROADS) DEPARTMENT (DEVELOPMENT) ASSAM SACHIVALAYA DISPUR GUWAHATI-781006 ASSAM

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3:THE DEPUTY SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM PUBLIC WORKS (ROADS) DEPARTMENT (WORKS) ASSAM SACHIVALAYA DISPUR GUWAHATI-781006 ASSAM

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4:THE CHIEF ENGINEER PWD (ROADS) ASSSAM

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CHANDMARI GUWAHATI-781003 DIST- KAMRUP (M) ASSAM 5:THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER PWD DIBRUGARH ROADS CIRCLE DIBRUGARH ASSAM PIN-786001 6:THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PWD DIBRUGARH LAHOWAL MORAN AND TINGKHONG TERRITORIAL ROAD DIVISION DIBRUGARH ASSAM PIN-786001 7:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM FINANCE (BUDGET ) DEPARTMENT DISPUR GUWAHATI-78100

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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. A DHAR

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Advocate for the Respondent : SC, PWD

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BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MICHAEL ZOTHANKHUMA

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ORDER

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16.02.2024

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Heard Mr. A. Dhar, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. B. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel for the PWD.

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The petitioner’s grievance is the non-payment of his contractual dues after

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execution of his contract work, amounting to Rs.22,67,537/-, in connection with the contractual work “Improvement of Metd. Bordubi Dhekiajan Tipom Road in Tengakhat Road Sub-Division under Dibrugarh Road Division, under Non-Plan for 2001-2002 (Providing W.B.M. Patching, PC &SC & Gravelling in Side Berm at 11^th to 12^th KM”.

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The petitioner had earlier approached this Court by way of WP(C) No. 3217/2011, which was disposed of vide order dated 24.06.2011, directing the respondents, i.e. the PWD, to deal with the grievance of the petitioner in accordance with the Full Bench judgment of this Court in the case of Tamsher Ali & Etc.Etc vs. State of Assam & Others, reported in 2008 (4) GauLT 1 .

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Mr. B. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel of the PWRD submits that the parawise comments given by the Executive Engineer, PWRD, Territorial Road Division, Dibrugarh (respondent no.6) which has been sent to the Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads), has been communicated to the him. In terms of the parawise comments, which has been forwarded by the Executive Engineer, PWRD to the Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads), vide letter dated 15.02.2024, the genuineness of the claim of the petitioner was verified on the basis of available papers in the office. The name of the petitioner was not found in the original chronological list available in the office for payment of his outstanding liabilities and the said findings were communicated to the Chief Engineer’s office vide letter dated 24.02.2024. The parawise comments further states that the amount of Rs.22,67,537/- was received from the Chief Engineer’s office vide No. DIB/PWR/003-DIV-2021-22(1)-60 dated 12.01.2022.

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Mr. B. Gogoi, submits that in view of the parawise comments, a further verification may be done by the Chief Engineer’s office and thereafter the amount found due, after verification, would be paid to the petitioner.

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On considering the letters dated 15.02.2024 & 24.02.2024 written by the respondent no.6 and the parawise comments dated 15.02.2024, this Court is of the view that the documents mentioned above imply that the petitioner’s claim is genuine and his name was not considered earlier, due to the petitioner’s name not being mentioned in the original chronological list available with the respondents, for payment of contractual dues. However, as consented by the parties, this writ petition is disposed of, with a direction to the Chief Engineer, PWD Roads to have a further verification of the petitioner’s claim with regard to the amount found due by the respondent no.6. After verification of the amount payable to the petitioner, the admitted amount should be paid to the petitioner. The entire exercise should be concluded within a period of 3 (three) months, from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.

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The above letters dated 15.02.2024 & 24.02.2024 and the parawise comments are made a part of the record and marked as Annexure-X collectively.

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The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.

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JUDGE

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Comparing Assistant

Pradip Kumar Das v. the State of Assam and 6 Ors.

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Pradip Kumar Das v. the State of Assam and 6 Ors.

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