IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT:- THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.H.L.DATTU & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER TUESDAY, THE 22ND JULY 2008 / 31ST ASHADHA 1930 W.A.No.1420 of 2008 ----------------------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT IN W.P.(C).NO.6603/2008 DATED 03/04/2008 .................... APPELLANT/PETITIONER:- ---------------------------------------- G. SASIDHARAN, S/O. P. GANGADHARAN, AGED 61 YEARS, RESIDING AT 'SITARA', T.C.7/200, ULLOOR, MEDICAL COLLEGE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.R.S.KALKURA SRI.M.S.KALESH SRI.HARISH GOPINATH SRI.V.VINAY MENON SMT.K.V.P.JAYALEKSHMY SRI.M.AJAY (IRUMPANAM) RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:- --------------------------------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, ROADS AND BRIDGES, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CIRCLE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ROADS DIVISION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 TO R3 BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.M.P.SREEKRISHNAN. THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:- H.L.Dattu, C.J. & A.K.Basheer, J. --------------------------------------------- W.A.No.1420 of 2008 --------------------------------------------- Dated, this the 22nd day of July, 2008 JUDGMENT H.L.Dattu,C.J. This Writ Appeal is directed against the orders passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C).No.6603 of 2008 dated 3rd April, 2008. By the impugned order, the learned Single Judge has rejected the writ petition. 2. The petitioner is a contractor. He has completed the works awarded by the State Government. His grievance in the writ petition is that the respondent, in spite of long lapse of time, has not paid the contract bill amount. Therefore, the petitioner was before the learned Single Judge, with a request to direct the respondents to settle the amounts due to him under the contract that is executed by him, as early as possible. 3. The learned Single Judge, after hearing the learned Government Advocate, has rejected the writ petition on the ground that the State Government has maintained a seniority of contractors for payment of the bills due under the contracts. It is further stated by the learned Government Advocate that the respondents have settled the amounts due to the contractors up to 31.03.2006. W.A.No.1420 of 2008 - 2 - 4. The learned Single Judge has taken note of the fact that the bill submitted by the petitioner is of recent origin, which was submitted only on 17.8.2007. Keeping in view a particular pattern that is being done by the State Government for disbursement of the amounts due under the contract, the learned Single Judge has thought it fit to reject the writ petition, but has observed that the petitioner's bills shall also be settled strictly following the seniority. We do not find any error, whatsoever, in the orders passed by the learned Single Judge, which would call for our interference in appeal. Therefore, the Writ Appeal requires to be rejected and it is rejected. Ordered accordingly. H.L.Dattu Chief Justice A.K.Basheer Judge vku/-