IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. CIVIL WRIT PETITION NO. 3416 OF 2009 DATE OF DECISION: July 09, 2009. Parties Name Sukhwant Singh Dhillon ...PETITIONER VERSUS State of Punjab and others ...RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASBIR SINGH PRESENT: Mr. R.S.Sidhu, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Anil Sharma, Addl. A.G., Punjab JASBIR SINGH, J. (oral) ORDER: Mr. Sharma seeks more time to file counter affidavit. However, in view of the order, which is going to be passed, there is no necessity to get counter affidavit from the respondents. Petitioner has filed this writ petition with a prayer that directions be issued to respondents No. 2 and 3 to release the admitted amount of the petitioner, which has become due on completion of the entire work allotted to him. It is contention of the counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is a Government contractor and he has executed numerous works assigned to him by the respondents from time to time. Lately he has completed work of removal of Sarkanda and dressing of service road of Wahabwala drain from RD 79500 to 94000 against work order No. 46. He has also completed work of dewatering of villages and village fields of CIVIL WRIT PETITION NO. 3416 OF 2009 -2- Fattakhera of tehsil Malout and dewatering of villages and village fields of Middu Khera, tehsil Malout, district Amritsar. After completing the entire work, when he asked for payment, the authorities tried to put him off on one pretext or the other. Compelled under the circumstances, he sent two legal notices both dated July 22, 2008 (Annexures P-1 and P-2). In reply, liability to pay has been admitted. However, his right to get money was denied stating that efforts are going on to arrange funds to make payment. This Court is of the view that the respondent – authorities cannot absolve their liability to make payment, on lame excuses. Petitioner has already executed the work. In view of above, this writ petition is disposed of by issuing direction to respondent No. 3 to release admitted amount due to the petitioner, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order, failing which, the petitioner shall be entitled to claim interest at the rate of 8% per annum from the date the amount had become due to him. It is made clear that in case the respondents wish to deny claim of the petitioner, for any valid reason, then a reasoned order be passed and the same be conveyed to the petitioner forthwith. July 09, 2009. ( Jasbir Singh ) DKC Judge