E.Arunaraj v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated :22.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA
1. E.Arunraj
2. M.R.Ravikumar
3. M.Venkatesh Babu
4. V.K.Mani
5. R.Venkatramanan
6. V.S.Duraivel
7. SJ Infra
...Petitioners
Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Fort St.George - Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Administration Wing, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.
3.The District Collector, Tiruvallur District - 602 001.
4.The Engineer-in-Chief(Buildings), Chennai Region, Public Works Department, PWD Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, chennai 600 005
...Respondents
1/7
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to approve the balance amount of Rs. 6,41,36,040/- (Rupees Six Crores Forty One Lakhs Thirty Six Thousand and Forty Only) expended by the Petitioners and consequently direct the other Respondents to forthwith pay the respective dues to the Petitioners as set out in the tabular column above.
For Petitioners : Ms.Kavitha Deenadayalan For Respondents-1to 4 : Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan Special Government Pleader
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking the issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to approve the balance amount of Rs. 6,41,36,040/- (Rupees Six Crores Forty One Lakhs Thirty Six Thousand and Forty Only) expended by the petitioners and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith pay the respective dues to the petitioners, as set out in the tabular column above.
2. It is the case of the petitioners that they are Class-I PWD contractors and have undertaken several Government works for the 2/7
Government of Tamil Nadu. In view of the proposed visit of the Hon'ble Chief Minister on 08.03.2020 for laying the foundation stone for the New Medical College at Tiruvallur, the 3rd respondent directed the 4th respondent to repair, renovate and widen the existing roads in the Master Plan Complex, Tiruvallur on an urgent basis through registered PWD contractors. A detailed estimate of Rs.8,65,66,978/- for 11 works was prepared by the Superintending Engineer, PWD, and the petitioners were awarded 9 out of the 11 works on a nomination basis. The petitioners completed all the entrusted works within the stipulated time. Thereafter, the concerned authorities recommended grant of administrative and financial sanction for the said works and repeatedly forwarded proposals, reports, estimates and clarifications to the Government, confirming that the works were of a permanent nature and formed part of infrastructure development under the Master Plan Complex.
3. Despite continuous correspondence and recommendations from the departmental authorities, the 1st respondent sanctioned only a sum of Rs.2,18,00,000/- vide G.O.(Ms) No.87 dated 18.02.2025, leaving a balance amount of Rs.6,47,66,978/- unpaid. The petitioners would 3/7
submit that the works were completed during the COVID-19 period, and even after more than five and a half years, the petitioners have not been paid their legitimate dues and are being made to run from pillar to post. The action of the respondents in extracting work from the petitioners, utilizing the infrastructure for public use, and thereafter withholding payment without any cogent reason is arbitrary, unjust, and amounts to dereliction of duty. Hence, this writ petition has been filed seeking the relief set out supra.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
5. Admittedly, the petitioner has executed the contract as is evident from a perusal of G.O.Ms.No.87 dated 18.02.2025 wherein the various works executed by the petitioners have been set out. Though the estimated value of the work was Rs.74,53,862/-, the same was accepted to be executed for a sum of Rs.73,79,333/-. The Government Order clearly states that a sum of Rs.8,65,66,978/- is due and payable to the petitioners. However, under the said Government Order, administrative and sanction was accorded only for a sum of Rs.2,18,00,000/- and the 4/7
balance amount has remained unpaid. Thereafter, it is seen that the Executive Engineer, P.W.D has forwarded a letter to the District Collector, Thiruvallur dated 02.04.2025 wherein he has requested the balance amount of Rs.6,47,66,978/- be obtained from the Government and paid to the petitioners. A similar recommendation has also been made by the District Collector thereafter to the Additional Chief Secretary to the 1st respondent. However, to date the said amount has not been paid.
6. Therefore, in the light of the above documents and the respondents having admitted the fact that the aforesaid amount is still payable to the petitioners, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a directions to the respondents 1 and 2 to disburse the balance amount of Rs.6,41,36,040/- to the petitioners within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 22.01.2026 Index : Yes/No Speaking Order : Yes / No srn 5/7
To
1. The Additional Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Fort St.George - Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Administration Wing, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.
3.The District Collector, Tiruvallur District - 602 001.
4.The Engineer-in-Chief(Buildings), Chennai Region, Public Works Department, PWD Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, chennai 600 005 6/7
P.T.ASHA, J., srn 22.01.2026 7/7