IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC MONDAY, THE 14TH JANUARY 2008 / 24TH POUSHA 1929 WP(C).No. 25451 of 2007(E) ----------- -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- T.ASOKA KUMAR, SOBITHA MANDIRAM, PONGUMMOODU, MEDICAL COLLEGE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.AJITH KRISHNAN RESPONDENTS: ----------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE CHIEF ENGINEER, P.W.D. BUILDINGS AND LOCAL WORKS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, PWD BUILDINGS AND LOCAL WORKS (SC), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PWD BUILDINGS DIVISION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 6. THE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF MUSEUM AND ZOOS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR.M.R.SABU THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 14/01/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING W.P.(C) NO.25451 OF 2007-E APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 6TH RESPONDENT VIDE ORDER NO.MZ(F) 1467/06 DATED 22.3.2006 EXT.P2 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER VIDE NO.BSC/1720/07/D2 AND BSC/1721/07/D2 DATED 5/7/2007 ISSUED BY 4TH RESPONDENT ADDRESSED TO 3RD RESPONDENT EXT.P3 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 10.7.2007 SUBMITTED BY PETITIONER BEFORE THE RESPONDENTS. / TRUE COPY / ANTONY DOMINIC, J. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = W.P.(C) No. 25451 OF 2007 E = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 14th January, 2008 J U D G M E N T Petitioner who claims to have executed certain works has approached this Court on account of the non-payment of the bill amount. 2. Learned Govt. Pleader, on instruction, submits that it is on account of the non-availability of special letter of credit from the Government that they could not make payment so far. 3. It may be true that special letter of credit is a procedural requirement of the respondent for effecting payment, but the non- availability of special letter of credit cannot be a reason for holding up the payment due to the petitioner for such a long time. It is the responsibility of the respondents to ensure that the special letter of credit is obtained in time and payments are released without delay. In this case inordinate delay has already been caused. I therefore dispose of the writ petition directing that the respondents shall WPC No. 25451/07 -2- complete the procedural requirement and ensure the payment to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within three months of production of a copy of this judgment. ANTONY DOMINIC JUDGE jan/-