ORDER:

1. The petitioner had been awarded diet contract works in Kakinada District. After execution of the said contract, a final bill was prepared for a sum of Rs.3,51,87,172/-. On 16.08.2022, an amount of Rs.3,00,12,949/- was paid. Out of the balance amount of Rs.51,74,223/- payable to the petitioner, upon negotiation, the petitioner agreed to reduce the claim to Rs.36,95,874/-. As the payment of the said amount has not been made by the respondents, the petitioner has approached this Court by way of this writ petition.

2. It is the contention of the petitioner that even though the respondents admitted that the petitioner is entitled for payment of the aforesaid sum of money, no payment is being made. The petitioner contends that such non- payment of money is clearly arbitrary and high-handed requiring the interference of this Court.

3. This Court, in various orders, including the judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court dated 05.10.2021 in W.P.No.10038 of 2021 and batch had taken the view that such non-payment of dues is arbitrary and that such dues need to be cleared by the respondents at the earliest.

4. On the other hand, learned Government Pleader for Health Medical & Family Welfare, while admitting about the claim of the petitioner placed on record instructions received from the Superintendent, Government General Hospital, Kakinada dated 09.03.2026. He would submit that, since the budget was not released by the Government, the bills were not paid to the petitioner. Soon after release of the budget by the Government, the bills will be paid to the petitioner.

5. In view of the aforesaid directions of this Court in various cases and after hearing the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Health Medical & Family Welfare, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to release the amount of Rs.36,95,874/- to the petitioner, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It would also be open to the petitioner to agitate his claim for rate of interest, if any payable by the respondents, in an appropriate forum. There shall be no order as to costs.

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

________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J W