M/S Dreams of Fountains Pvt. Ltd. Vs the State of… — Company and Corporate | Karnataka HC (2026)

M/S Dreams of Fountains Pvt. Ltd. Vs the State of… — Company and Corporate | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Mandamus directing respondent No.2 to consider the representations dated 14.11.2025 (Annexures-M and M1) and pass necessary orders within 30 days from receipt of a copy of the order; the Court left open the Petitioner's entitlement to the claimed money.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should be issued directing Respondent No.2 to consider the Petitioner's representations dated 14.11.2025 (Annexures-M and M1) and to release the claimed amount of Rs. 1,08,02,499 with interest at 18% per annum. +1 more

Court's answer

The Writ Petition is allowed; a mandamus is issued directing respondent No.2 to consider the representations dated 14.11.2025 (Annexures-M and M1) and pass necessary orders within 30 days from receipt of a copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

An employer to whom bills/representations for payment are submitted must consider them and either make payment or reject the request within a reasonable period of time.

Key takeaways

The Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the Petitioner to the money claimed; that question is left open.obiter¶45
An order of rejection of a bill/representation for payment is required to be accompanied by reasons.obiter¶37

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (GM-RES) under Article 226 r/w 227 of the Constitution of India — Petitioner (M/s Dreams of Fountains Pvt Ltd, formerly Dap Hombale Pvt Ltd, and M/s Chilume Enterprises Pvt Ltd) claimed Rs. 1,08,02,499 with interest at 18% per annum as due in terms of proceedings dated 13.12.2019 (Annexure-J) and under Work Order dated 02.03.2019; bills for works carried out unpaid; representations dated 14.11.2025 (Annexures-M, M1) to respondent No.2 not considered — Held: an employer must consider bills/representations for payment and either make payment or reject the request with reasons within a reasonable period — Mandamus issued to respondent No.2 to consider the representations and pass necessary orders within 30 days of receipt of copy of order — Court expressly left open the Petitioner's entitlement to the money claimed — Petition allowed (Suraj Govindaraj, J.).

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26163 WP No. 1296 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 3^RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

WRIT PETITION NO. 1296 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

M/S DREAMS OF FOUNTAINS PVT LTD FORMERLY KNOWN AS DAP HOMBALE PVT LTD AND M/S CHILUME ENTERPRISES PVT LIMITED, COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE PROVISION OF COMPANIES ACT, 2013 HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT NO. 261/1, 2ND MAIN, 17TH CROSS, BEHIND SHEKAR NURSING HOME, MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU-560003 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SHRUTHI.B

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. PRITHVEESH M.K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTED BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHAN SOUDHA AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BANGALORE - 560001.

THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER / RETURNING OFFICER 24-BENGALURU NORTH MP CONSTITUTENCY BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT BENGALURU – 560009

THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA,

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26163 WP No. 1296 of 2026

HC-KAR

NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 001.

THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER KARNATAKA NIRVACHANA NILAYA, SHESHADRI ROAD, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560001 [email protected]

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFFAR SHAH., AGA FOR R1 & R2; SRI. SHARATH DODAWAD., ADVOCATE FOR R3 TO R4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 R/W 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 14.11.2025 AT ANNEXURE-M AND M1 AND FURTHER DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO RELEASE THE AMOUNTS LAWFULLY DUE TO THE PETITIONER, A SUM OF INR ₹1,08,02,499/-/(PNE CRORE EIGHT LAKH TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED NINETY NINE ONLY) IN TERMS OF THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE RESPONDENT NO. 1 DATED: 13.12.2019 IN ANNEXURE-J TOGETHER WITH INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 18% PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE AMOUNTS BECAME DUE UNDER THE WORK ORDER DATED 02.03.2019, UNTIL THE DATE OF ACTUAL PAYMENT; ANN- D TO D2 AND ETC.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

The Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

a. Issue a writ of mandamus directing the Respondent No.2 consider the representation dated 14.11.2025 at Annexure-M and M1 and further direct the respondents to release the amounts lawfully due

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:26163 WP No. 1296 of 2026

HC-KAR

to the Petitioner, a sum of INR ₹1,08,02,499/-(One Crore Eight Lakh Two Thousand Four Hundred NinetyNine Only) in terms of the Proceedings before the Respondent No. 1 dated: 13.12.2019 in Annexure-j together with interest at the rate of 18% per annum from the date on which the amounts became due under the Work Order dated 02.03.2019, until the date of actual payment; Ann- D to D2.

b. Grant such other and further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit, just, and proper in the interest of justice and equity.

The grievance of the Petitioner is that the bills which had been submitted by the Petitioner for the works carried out were not paid. As such, the Petitioner submitted representations on 14.11.2025 at Annexures-M and M1 seeking for the said payments. The said representations not having been considered, the Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the aforesaid reliefs.

Whenever any bills and/or representation is submitted to the employer to make payment, it is required for the said employer to consider the said bills/representation and either make payment or reject the request made within a reasonable period of time.

Needless to say, if an order of rejection is passed, the same is required to be accompanied by reasons.

4 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26163 WP No. 1296 of 2026

HC-KAR

Neither having been done, this Court passes the following:

ORDER

i) The Writ Petition is allowed .

ii) A mandamus is issued directing respondent No.2 to consider the representations dated 14.11.2025 at Annexures-M and M1 and pass necessary orders within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

iii) It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the Petitioner to the money spent.

SD/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

PRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 34.2