IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.6809 of 2007 SARWAN KUMAR …. PETITIONER Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH CHIEF SECRETARY, PATNA 2. THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, MUZAFFARPUR 3. DEPUTY COLLECTOR, MUZAFFARPUR 4. D.D.C., MUZAFFARPUR. …. RESPONDENTS. ----------- 4. 7.11.2008 This case depicts the sorry state of affairs that prevails and forbid the State. For emergent flood relief work in the year, 2002 petitioner was asked to supply polythene sheets. The rates were fixed. Petitioner immediately made supplies and submitted his four bills. There being no dispute, the District Magistrate, Muzaffapur scrutinized all the four bills accepted the liability, but ordered for payment of only three bills on the ground that there was no adequate fund allocation for payment of the fourth bill and the financial year was ending. Thus, started the misery of the petitioner, who worked for emergent flood relief and is now seeking relief from this court for six long years. Thereafter, State failed to make fund allocation for payment of those emergent works. It is only after this writ application was filed in May, 2007 respondent State work up to grant relief to the petitioner. On instructions, the learned counsel for the State states that the petitioner has now been paid - 2 - Rs.1,20,972/- by cheque on 16.10.2008 for the outstanding dues. This payment should have been made to the petitioner as far back as in 2002, but was withheld for six long years forcing the petitioner to come to this court for a direction for making allotment of funds for payment of his bills. The petitioner has prayed for interest as well. In my view, as the liability was never disputed and wrongly payment withheld the petitioner is entitled to interest. I, accordingly, direct that the petitioner be compensated by interest at the rate of 6% per year from 2002 up to the date of the payment on the said amount. This payment must be made within one month from the date of production of this order before the District Magistrate, Muzaffapur by the petitioner. This writ application is thus allowed in terms aforesaid. DKS/ (Navaniti Prasad Singh, J.)