IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION NO.16111 of 2007 DATED 21-8-2007 BETWEEN Chitturi Bhogeswara Rao .. Petitioner And The Government of A.P. rep by its Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad and two others. .. Respondents THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION NO.16111 of 2007 Oral Order: The petitioner is a civil contractor. He was awarded the work of cleaning and desilting of Tamara Cheruvu (D.W.Tank) in Kolidindi Gram Panchayat at an estimated cost of Rs.42,000/-. He was also awarded the work of raising the height of public taps at an estimated cost of Rs.28,000/-. The petitioner completed the works and submitted the bills as per the measurements recorded in the M-Books by the engineers. Since the amounts were not paid, he got issued a legal notice on 7.6.2007 under Section 138-A of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 demanding payment of money with interest at 24% per annum, in vein. Therefore, he filed the writ petition seeking appropriate directions to the gram panchayat. The matter was initially listed on 30.7.2007. It was adjourned to 7.8.2007 to enable the learned standing counsel for the gram panchayat to get instructions. Though the matter was again adjourned on 7.8.2007, the learned standing counsel is not able to state whether the bills are cleared or not. Therefore, this Court is of the considered opinion that a direction should go to the third respondent to look into the legal notice sent by the petitioner and take appropriate action for payment of the bills for the works, which the petitioner completed. This exercise shall be completed within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. With the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. ____________ V.V.S.RAO,J Dated 21.8.2007 Note: Dispatch a copy of this order by 27.8.2007 msv