Amit Bhardwaj v. The State Of Punjab And Others

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 08.02.2022 Amit Bhardwaj -Petitioner

Versus

The State of Punjab and others -Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

Present:

Mr. Chirag Girdhar, Advocate, for the petitioner.

**** RAJ MOHAN SINGH, J. (Oral) The case has been taken up for hearing through video conferencing.

Petitioner has preferred this petition for issuance of an appropriate writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to pay an amount of Rs.20,47,924/- qua the work done by the petitioner along with interest.

Petitioner is a government contractor. The work of Renovation and Up-gradation of Public Health Services in Causality Building for remaining bathrooms/toilets of ground to 3rd floor at Rajindra Hospital was allocated to the petitioner on 04.02.2019. The work was completed by the petitioner in time to the satisfaction of the respondents. Payment bills have already

-2been passed with due certification, but the payment has not been released so far.

Precisely, for the grievance in question, petitioner has already got issued legal notice on 03.01.2022, but the same has not been adhered to by respondent No.4 so far. At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would be satisfied in case his legal notice dated 03.01.2022 is directed to be decided by respondent No.4 within a stipulated period.

Notice of motion.

On the asking of the Court, Mr. T.P.S. Chawla, D.A.G., Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. In view of nature of order which this Court proposes to pass, there is no necessity of calling upon response from the respondents at this stage, as no order prejudicial to the interest of any party is being passed.

This petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.4 to take an appropriate decision on pending legal notice filed by the petitioner and decide the same in accordance with law preferably within a period of two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. If respondent No.4 ultimately comes to the conclusion

-3that the petitioner is entitled for the amount in question, the same be paid forthwith within a further period of one month. In case, the amount in question is not paid within the aforesaid period of one month, thereafter, the petitioner shall be entitled to interest @ 6% per annum for the delayed payment thereafter till final realization of the amount.

08.02.2022 (RAJ MOHAN SINGH) Jyoti Sharma JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether reportable :

Yes/No