IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 23903 of 2002 Between: Agadallanka Water Users Association Rep. by its President ; Baleswami Seetha Rama Krishna Rao Agadallanka water Usera Association, Agadallanka Village, Bhimadole Mandal, West Godavari District R/o Agadallanka Bhimadole Mandal, West Godavari District ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Executive Engineer, Godavari Western Division, Nidadavole, West Godavari District 2 Government of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by its Secretary Irrigation & CAD Department Secretariat, Hyderabad .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction, declaring the action of the respondents in not resolving the disputes with regard to payment of due amount as per clause 8 of the Articles of Agreement dated 1-9-2001 for releasing he amounts payable to the petitioner association by considering the petitioner's representation dated 2-7-2002 as illegal, arbitrary and violative of principles of natural justice and for a consequential order directing the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 2-7-2002 forthwith. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.CH.DHANAMJAYA Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR IRRIGATION & COMM AREA DEV. The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 23903 of 2002 O R D E R: This writ petition is filed seeking a declaration that the alleged action of the respondents in not resolving the dispute with regard to payment of the amounts due to the petitioner is arbitrary and illegal. In the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the first respondent, the fact that the work was executed by the petitioner-association has not been disputed. It is also stated that the administrative sanction was granted vide G.O.Rt.No.354, dated 29.03.2001 for Rs.17.12 lakhs. It is also stated that an agreement was concluded to that effect vide agreement No.7/2001-02. The counter-affidavit also shows that a sum of Rs.16,55,116/- was paid to the petitioner-association based on measurements taken on site during the year 2001. It is claimed by the first respondent that the final bill for the accepted quantity as per measurements recorded in Measurements Book was paid in September, 2001. Therefore, the petitioner-association is not entitled for any further payment. On the other hand, the petitioner-association states that it is entitled to receive a total sum of Rs.23,56,046/- apart from the interest payable thereon. It is also stated that as per Clause 8 of the Articles of Agreement, which provides for settlement of disputes, they made a representation to the first respondent for settlement of their claim. In the circumstances, it is for the first respondent to consider the claim of the petitioner and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to pass appropriate orders on the representation made by the petitioner, dated 02.07.2002 by following due process of law and communicate the same to the petitioner-association within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion with regard to the entitlement of the petitioner to receive further amounts and it is open to the first respondent to consider the claim in accordance with law. No costs. _____________ G.ROHINI,J 12th February 2009 KH