2026:CGHC:7770-DB Digitally signed by SAGRIKA SAGRIKA AGRAWAL AGRAWAL Date:

2026.02.12

17:03:07 +0530 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 607 of 2026

1 - Ramesh Kumar Yadav S/o Premlal Yadav Aged About 50 Years Electrical Contractor- Point Shop No.1 District- Panchayat Compound Jagdalpur District- Bastar (C.G.)

... Petitioner(s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Secretary Public Works Department Nirman Bhawan North Block- Sector-19, Atal Nagar Naya Raipur District- Raipur (C.G.)

2 - The Executive Engineer Public Works Department (E/m) Sub-

Division Jagdalpur District- Bastar (C.G.)

3 - The Sub-Divisional Officer Public Works Department (E/m) Sub-

Division Jagdalpur District- Bastar (C.G.)

4 - The Civil Surgeon Cum Chief Superintendent Of Hospital Maharani Hospital Jagdalpur District- Bastar (C.G.)

... Respondent(s)

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Harshal Chouhan, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Shashank Thakur, Addl. A.G.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal , Judge Judgment on Board Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

12.02.2026

1. Heard Mr. Harshal Chouhan, learned counsel for the petitioner.

Also heard Mr. Shashank Thakur, learned Deputy Advocate General appearing for the Respondents/State.

2. By way of this petition, the petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:-

“10.1 To call for the records of the case for the kind perusal of this Hon'ble Court.

10.2 To issue an appropriate writ or order directing the respondent authorities to clear the final bill as claimed by the petitioner and pay the amount with interest @18%.

10.3 To issue an appropriate writ or order directing the respondent authorities to decide the representations made by the petitioner dated 13.12.2024 and

23.10.2025.

10.4. Any other relief deemed fit in the facts and circumstances of the case may also be granted.”

3. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner, a Class ‘A’

electrical contractor, challenges the arbitrary inaction of Respondent Authorities in withholding the balance payment for duly executed work. A work amounting to Rs. 8.124 lakh for “Repairing of various Air Conditioning Units at Maharani Hospital, Jagdalpur, District Bastar (C.G.)” was sanctioned on

07.02.2024, and the petitioner was awarded the work order on 14.06.2024 for a contract amount of Rs. 7,40,000/-. The petitioner completed the work satisfactorily on 10.10.2024, whereupon a completion certificate was issued and the final running account bill was duly submitted on the same date. Despite payment of Rs. 1,62,480/- towards the running bill, the remaining amount has not been released. Repeated representations dated 13.12.2024 and 23.10.2025 have yielded no response, and even after issuance of the completion certificate, the respondent authorities have failed to decide the pending representations or release the admitted dues, compelling the petitioner to approach this Hon’ble Court.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits the action and inaction of the respondent authorities in withholding the legitimate dues of the petitioner, despite successful completion of the work and issuance of completion certificate dated 10.10.2024, is arbitrary, illegal and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Once the work has been duly executed to the satisfaction of the department and part payment has already been released, there remains no justification for non- payment of the balance amount. The petitioner has repeatedly approached the authorities by way of representations dated 13.12.2024 and 23.10.2025, yet neither any reasoned order has been passed nor the admitted dues have been cleared, causing undue financial hardship to the petitioner. Such unjustified withholding of payment and failure to decide the representations reflects administrative apathy and warrants interference by this Hon’ble Court in exercise of its writ jurisdiction.

5. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petit