JUDGMENT

The above writ petitions were preferred, being aggrieved by the non-release of the contract work amount. The original petitioner in both the writ petitions was an 'A' Grade Government Contractor who had been awarded two works, viz., I.CRF work improvements and strengthening of weak pavements by providing BM & BC for MPR starting from 581/600 connecting Balaramapuram- Poovvar in Thiruvananthapuram II.CRF 2013-14 improvements of Udiyankulangara Plamoottukkada – Charottukonam – Chenkavila and Plamoottukkada – Idichakka Plamoodu on NH 47.

2. The contractual amounts for the respective works were Rs.10,47,97,304/- and Rs.10,22,73,294/-. The contractual agreement for the first work was signed on 18.02.2015, and for the second work on 15.05.2015. The initial time for the completion of the works, as per the agreement, was 24.11.2015, and

29.07.2015, respectively. These deadlines were later extended to

30.04.2016, and 29.12.2015.

3. During the pendency of the writ petitions, the original petitioner passed away. Consequently, his legal heirs were impleaded as supplemental petitioners in W.P.(C) No. 7123 of 2017, and the amended petition, W.P.(C) No. 26363 of 2017, was preferred by his l