IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC THURSDAY, THE 3RD APRIL 2008 / 14TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 6603 of 2008(J) ------------------------- 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.KVP.JAYALEKSHMY SRI.M.AJAY (IRUMPANAM) 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. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADE SRI.I.V.PRAMOD THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------------------------- W.P.C.No.6603 of 2008 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 3rd day of April, 2008 JUDGMENT The prayer in this writ petition is to direct the respondents to make immediate payment of the final bill of the petitioner in respect of the contract No.37/SE BSG/04/05 dated 18.5.2004. 2. The learned Government Pleader was directed to obtain instructions in the matter. Today, it is submitted before me that strictly following the seniority, the respondents have cleared bills up to 31.3.2006 and that the petitioner's bills were received in the office on 22.8.2007. 3. In view of the facts stated as above, especially when the petitioner himself has submitted the bill only on 17.8.2007, there cannot be an allegation that there has been any inordinate delay in processing the bill. Since the respondents are following the seniority as the basis for payment, this court will not be justified in directing them to depart from the system that has been followed by them. WPC 6603/08 2 Accordingly, I dispose of this writ petition directing that strictly following the seniority the bills of the petitioner shall also be settled. ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE csl