IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P NO. 5960 OF 2009 DECIDED ON : 21.04.2009 The Bhikhi Co-op. L & C Society Ltd. & anr. ...Petitioners versus State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT Present : Mr. P. S. Sekhon, Advocate, for the petitioners. SURYA KANT, J. (ORAL) Notice of motion. Mr. G. S. Attariwala, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. The petitioner No.1-Society and petitioner No.2- Contractor, seek a mandamus directing the respondents to release the payment, along with interest for the work executed by them. The petitioner No.1 is a Cooperative Society duly registered under the Punjab Cooperative Act. Petitioner No.2 is a government contractor. Both the petitioners are stated to have executed the works allotted to them by the respondents from time to time, within the stipulated period and to the satisfaction of the authorities. Various applications were sent by both the petitioners to the respondents. However, the due payment is not being released to the petitioners, despite legal notices Annexures P-2 and P-3, served on their behalf. C.W.P NO. 5960 OF 2009 -2- It appears that the petitioners are entitled to be paid certain dues on account of the work executed by them. The said payment, however, is not being released for one or the other administrative reasons. In these circumstances, I am of the considered view that whatever amount the petitioners have been found entitled to by the respondents, there is no justification to withhold the same. Consequently, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to settle the petitioners' account and whatever is found due, release the same within a period of two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. As regards the petitioners' claim for interest, the same cannot be effectively decided in these proceedings and the petitioners would be at liberty to recover the same, if so admissible, as per law. Disposed of. APRIL 21, 2009 (SURYA KANT) shalini JUDGE