M/S. Soma Srinivasa Reddy Engineers And Contractors, v. The Government Of Andhra Pradesh,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE A.RAMALINGESWARA RAO WRIT PETITION No.31669 of 2010 ORDER:

This writ petition was filed for the following relief: "to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondents in withholding and deducting 0.25% of the gross bill amounts payable to the petitioners by referring to G.O.Ms.No.98 I & CAD Department dated 05.07.2000, G.O.Ms.No.61 T, R & B Department dated 11.04.2000 and G.O.Ms.No.159 T, R & B Department dated 30.10.2004, which were set aside by this Court as illegal and unconstitutional and consequently direct the respondents not to recover 0.25% of amount from the gross bills payable to the petitioner for the works carried out by the petitioner." The issue raised in this writ petition is no longer res integra.

A learned Single Judge of this Court held that such withholding of amount is bad in law, and against the same, the State preferred W.A. No.2117 of 2005 & batch but the same was dismissed by a Division Bench of this Court on 21.07.2010. The said decision was reported in 2010 (5) ALT 787 (DB) [State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Special Chief Secretary to Government, Transport, Roads & Buildings (B.I) Department v. National Academy of Construction, Hyderabad rep. by its Director General Sri R.C. Sinha].

In view of the authoritative decision of the Division Bench of this Court confirming the order of learned single Judge, this Writ Petition is allowed. No order as to costs.

Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed.

________________________________ A.RAMALINGESWARA RAO, J

21.04.2016 MVA