IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P NO. 167 OF 2009 DECIDED ON : 08.01.2009 Surinder Pal Singh ...Petitioner versus State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT Present : Mr. Hemant Saini, Advocate, for the petitioner. SURYA KANT, J. (ORAL) Notice of motion. Mr. G. S. Attariwala, Additional AG, Punjab accepts notice. Having regard to the nature of the proposed order, learned State counsel submits that there is no need to file any counter affidavit. As prayed for by learned counsel for the parties, the main case is taken up for final disposal. The petitioner in this writ petition seeks a mandamus to direct the respondents to release the payment of Rs.53,038/- towards final bill for the work executed by him along with security and interest. The petitioner relies upon the contents of reply dated 25.06.2008 (Annexure P-3) received by his counsel in response to the legal notice wherein it is candidly admitted that “As and when the funds are received from the government the C.W.P NO. 167 OF 2009 -2- claim of the Agency will be settled at top priority as the department is very keen to settle the issue out of Court”. It, thus, appears that the petitioner is undisputedly entitled to be paid certain dues on account of the work executed by him. The said payment, however, has been withheld for one or the other administrative reasons. In these circumstances, I am of the considered view that whatever amount the petitioner has been found entitled to by the respondents, there is no justification to withhold the payment thereof. Consequently, the Civil Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to settle the petitioner's account and whatever is found due, to release the same to him within a period of two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. As regards the petitioner's claim for interest, the same cannot be effectively adjudicated upon in these proceedings and the petitioner would be at liberty to recover the same, if so admissible, as per law. Disposed of. JANUARY 08, 2009 (SURYA KANT) shalini JUDGE