Government authorities must promptly pay admitted outstanding dues for services rendered, preventing undue hardship to claimants.

JUDGMENT :

KARDAK ETE, J.

Heard Mr. A. Deka, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K. Gogoi, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate for the respondents.

2. Aggrieved by the non-payment of the outstanding hire charges of the vehicle of the petitioner amounting to Rs. 4,42,932/- (rupees four lakh forty-two thousand nine hundred thirty-two) only, the present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent authorities to make payment of the said amount.

3. The petitioner claims to be a reputed entrepreneur, who is engaged in the business of providing vehicles on hire across the State of Assam to various government as well as private organizations. The vehicle of the petitioner, Maruti Van was hired by the respondent authorities during the year 2024 for different periods. The hire was on the requisition of the respondent authorities for public service for the purpose of maintaining law and order in the State of Assam by the Additional District Magistrate, Kamrup Metropolitan District. The requisition order states that hire charges shall be paid on the submissions of bills before the concerned authorities in terms of the government notification dated 06.02.2014.

4. It is contended that the vehicle-Maruti Van provided by the petitioner was engaged for the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024. The respondent authorities had generated hire charges amounting to Rs. 4,42,932/- (rupees four lakh forty-two thousand nine hundred thirty-two) only. The petitioner contends that despite repeated approaches, the respondent authorities have failed to release the said outstanding amount, for which, she has suffered serious financial hardship.

5. Mr. Deka, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that there is no dispute to the said outstanding bill amount of Rs. 4,42,932/- (rupees four lakh forty-two thousand nine hundred thirty-two) only, as the same is admittedly the hire charges of the vehicle on being requisitioned by the respondent authorities, which is an admitted amount payable to the petitioner. Therefore, a direction may be issued to the respondent authority to release the said outstanding hire charge of the vehicle requisitioned by the respondents.

6. Mr. K. Gogoi, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate, although no affidavit in opposition is filed, by placing the para-wise comments from the respondent authorities, submits that the claim of the petitioner is for an amount of Rs. 4,42,932/- (rupees four lakh forty-two thousand nine hundred thirty-two) only and on scrutiny of the record, the amount claimed for the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.03.2024, amounting to Rs. 1,10,128/- (rupees one lakh ten thousand one hundred twenty-eight) only, relates to a vehicle registered in the name of one Shri Raj Barman and does not belong to the petitioner. However, the petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs. 3,32,804/- (rupees three lakh thirty-two thousand eight hundred four) only in respect of the period from 01.04.2024 to 31.12.2024. After completion of the scrutiny, the concerned respondent authorities have forwarded the admitted amount of Rs. 3,32,804/- (rupees three lakh thirty-two thousand eight hundred four) only to the Assam Police Headquarters on 25.06.2025 for according approval and sanction as well as allotment of the fund for payment to the petitioner. He submits that the said outstanding admitted amount will be paid to the petitioner as soon as the approval, sanction and allotment of the fund is received from the competent authority.

7. I have considered the submissions of the learned counsels for the parties and also perused the materials available on record.

8. The claim of the petitioner is for an amount of Rs. 4,42,932/- (rupees four lakh forty-two thousan