2026:CGHC:2157-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR W.P(C) No.6256 of 2025 M/s. Ajay Agencies Through Its Proprietor Sanjay Agrawal, S/o Late Shri Kapoor Chandra Agrawal Aged About 53 Years, R/o Main Road, Janjgir, Ward No.15, District Janjgir- Champa (C.G.)

... Petitioner versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Public Health And Engineering Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)

2 - Superintendent Engineer Public Health And Engineering Department, Bilaspur Division, District Bilaspur (C.G.)

3 - Collector Janjgir, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.)

SISTLA NEELIMA VISHNU PRIYA

4 - Executive Engineer, Public Health And Engineering Division, SISTLA NEELIMA Janjgir, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.)

VISHNU PRIYA Date: 2026.01.15

6 - Executive Engineer Public Health And Engineering Division, Champa, District Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) ... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. Sushobhit Singh, Advocate.

For Respondents : Mr. Shashank Thakur, Additional Advocate General.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge

Order on Board

Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice

14.01.2026

1. Heard Mr. Sushobhit Singh, learned counsel for the Petitioner. Also heard Mr. Shashank Thakur, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the Respondents/State.

2. By way of this Petition, the Petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:-

“10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to issue appropriate writ/order/direction directing the respondent authorities to release the undisputed outstanding amount of Rs.7,56,848/- as mentioned in the completion report dated 10-05-2021 with interest @ 9% p.a. from 10-05-2021 till the date of actual payment to the petitioner.

10.2 Any appropriate writ, direction or order may also kindly be passed in favour of the petitioners, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the circumstances of the case.”

3. The Petitioner has preferred this Petition being aggrieved by the negligence on the part of the Respondents/State authorities as they have failed to perform their statutory duties by not releasing the undisputed amount for the works which have been executed by the Petitioner/Contractor.

4. The Petitioner-Firm was engaged in the work of Water Distribution System including replacement, repair and installation of pipeline under the Nal Jal Yozna floated by the Respondents/State authorities. The Petitioner was issued work order vide order dated 28.01.2021 for the aforesaid works, the total value of which is Rs.7.665 lacs and the time limit to complete the same was three months as mentioned thereunder (Annexure P-1). The Petitioner-Firm initiated the work as per the work order and completed the same well within the stipulated period as per the quality specification norms prescribed by the Respondent/State authorities. Subsequently, the Petitioner-Firm has submitted its final bill amounting to Rs.7,56,848/- and received a completion certificate to this effect on 10.05.2021 (Annexure P-2). Thereafter, the Petitioner-Firm has requested the Respondent authorities to release the undisputed pending bills, however, the same stood pending till date. An inter departmental communication was also issued wherein, it was informed that payment to the Petitioner is pending on account of non-allotment of funds from the higher authorities (Annexure P-4). The Petitioner is suffering serious mental illness and loss due to the inaction on the part of the Respondent-authorities by not releasing the requisite outstanding undisputed bills. Hence, this Petition.

5. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the action on the part of the Respondent-authorities is illegal and arbitrary and they have failed to perform their mandatory and statutory duties by not releasing the undisputed amount, which is due to the Petitioner. He further submits that the work executed by the Petitioner was inspected by the Respondent authorities by conducting a site inspection and the same was f