When state authorities acknowledge an outstanding financial liability for services rendered, the court may invoke its constitutional jurisdiction to direct the timely disbursement of the admitted dues, ensuring that administrative inaction does not result in the deprivation of legitimate individual claims.

JUDGMENT AND ORDER :

DEVASHIS BARUAH, J.

Heard Mr. S. A. Ahmed, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner and Mr. S. R. Baruah, the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the Respondents.

2. The instant petition has been filed by the Petitioner being aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the Respondent Authorities in not making payment of the bills of the Petitioner.

3. The case of the Petitioner herein is that the Petitioner is the owner of a vehicle bearing Registration No. AS-02/U-6082 (Tata Sumo Gold EX CR4 B), which was hired by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Hojai, in the month of May, 2019, and has continued to run on hire under the said office till date.

4. The learned counsel for the Petitioner submitted that the Petitioner had submitted hire charge bills amounting to th Rs.23,60,675/- for the period from May, 2019 to 28 February, 2025. However, the Respondent Authorities, more particularly the Respondent No.4 had disbursed only a part payment of Rs.2,28,000/- and the remaining outstanding amount has not been paid to the Petitioner. The learned counsel further submitted that the Petitioner had submitted various representations before the Respondent Authorities seeking release of the remaining amount; however, the same still remains unpaid, for which the Petitioner has approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution.

5. Mr. S. R. Baruah, the learned Government Advocate during the course of the hearing has placed before this Court an instruction issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Hojai, Assam, dated 13.05.2026. The said instruction is kept on record and marked with the letter “X”.

6. From a perusal of the said instruction, it appears that the Respondents have duly admitted that the Petitioner is entitled to an amount of Rs.25,31,476/- and out of which, a sum of Rs.3,45,824/- has already been paid to the Petitioner. Accordingly, the remaining balance due and payable stands at Rs.21,85,652/-. Paragraph Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the said instruction dated 13.05.2026 being relevant are reproduced herein under:

“3. That Sir, the aforementioned writ petition concerns a vehicle, a Tata Sumo bearing Registration No.AS-02U-6082, registered in the name of Farid Uddin Ahmed. This vehicle was hired from May 1, 2019 to 30.09.2024.

4. That Sir, the total liability concerning the aforementioned vehicle amounts to Rs.25,31,476/- of this amount, Rs.3,45,824/- has already been paid to the petitioner. The remaining balance due is Rs.21,85,652/-.

5. That Sir, the Hire charge bills are sanctioned from APHQ. Therefore, all the Hire charge Bills are already sent to APHQ for sanction.

7. That Sir, the owner of the hired vehicle willingly submitted a letter offering a 2%negotiation on the total Hire Charge Bill for a one-time settlement. Furthermore, the resubmitted Hire Charge Bills have been sent to the Assam Police Headquarters for sanction.”

7. Taking into account the above, it therefore appears that the Petitioner at present is entitled to Rs.21,85,652/-.

8. Accordingly, the instant writ petition stands disposed of with the following observations and directions:

(i) The Respondent Authorities are directed pay the Petitioner the admitted amount of Rs.21,85,652/- or such amount after statutory deductions.

(ii) The said exercise be completed within a period of 6 (six)months from the date a certified copy of the instant judgment is served upon the Respondent No.2 i.e. the Director General of Police, Guwahati.

(iii) Any amount paid during the pendency of the present proceedings would be set off at the time of disbursal of the amounts to the Petitioner.