2026:CGHC:809-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 6625 of 2025 M/s. Awadhesh Singh Gautam Place Of Business At Village- Nakulnar, District South Bastar- Dantewada, Chhattisgarh- 494552, Through Its Authorized Partner, Mr. Abhishek Singh Gautam, S/o Mr. Awadhesh Singh Gautam. ... Petitioner(s)

versus

1. State of Chhattisgarh Through Its Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Vikas Bhawan, Ground Floor, Sector

19, North Block, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, Raipur C.G. 492102.

2. The Chief Engineer, Chhattisgarh Rural Road Development Agency (Cgrrda), Vikas Bhawan, Civil Lines, District Raipur C.G.

492001

3. The Executive Engineer Cum Member Secretary, Project Implementation Unit (Piu)- 01, Chhattisgarh Rural Road Development Agency (Cgrrda), District South Bastar Dantewada (C.G.)

4. The Superintending Engineer, Project Implementation Unit (Piu)-

01, Bastar, Chhattisgarh Rural Road Development Agency (Cgrrda), District Bastar C.G.

5. The Nodal Officer, Jila Nirman Samiti Dantewada, District South Bastar Dantewada (C.G.)

...Respondent(s)

Digitally (Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

signed by BRIJMOHAN BRIJMOHAN MORLE MORLE Date:

2026.01.08 +0530 For Petitioner : Mr. Harshwardhan Parganiha, Advocate.

For Respondent/State : Mr. Praveen Das, Additional Advocate General.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Arvind Kumar Verma , Judge

Order on Board

Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

07.01.2026

1. Heard Mr. Harshwardhan Parganiha, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. Praveen Das, learned Additional Advocate General, appearing for the State.

2. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Article

226 of the Constitution of India, seeking following reliefs :-

“10.1 Quash and set aside the order dated 27.09.2025 issued by the respondent No. 3;

10.2 Direct the respondent authorities to forthwith initiate the refund/release of Rs. 38,00,000/- to the designated bank account of the petitioner firm, along with interest till date of realization of amount by the petitioner firm;

10.3 Pass any other order or issue such directions as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit in light of the facts and circumstances of the present case, in the interest of justice.”

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is a Partnership Firm duly registered with the Public Works Department, Chhattisgarh, as a Class-A Contractor bearing Unique Identification Number (UIN) CGeR17944, and is engaged in the execution of large- scale and complex construction projects. The petitioner firm is duly authorized to institute and prosecute the present writ petition through its competent partner. He further submits that Respondent No. 3 issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) bearing Reference No. 961 / Tech. / CGRRDA / 2024 dated 20.08.2024, inviting bids from eligible bidders for execution of Package No. CG-03-163 (Balance Work), namely Palnar- Permapara Road (24.00 Km) to Mirchipara under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

4. It is further contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner firm, having fulfilled all eligibility criteria, submitted its bid at 12.10% above the PMGSY Schedule of Rates (effective from 22.02.2018), which was duly accepted by the respondent authorities. The acceptance of the bid was communicated vide Letter of Acceptance dated 18.10.2024, followed by issuance of a Work Order dated 05.11.2024 in favour of the petitioner firm. He further submits that pursuant to issuance of the said Work Order, the petitioner firm promptly mobilized men, machinery, and materials at the site and commenced execution of the work without any delay. Upon completion of approximately 40% of the work, the petitioner firm raised its second running bill amounting to Rs. 45,62,000/- in accordance with the contractual terms.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that despite completion of substantial work, the respondent authorities failed to release payment of the sai