Gauhati High Court Orders Assam to Pay Rs 82.91 Lakh to Vehicle Owner After Verification

Guwahati, August 14, 2026 – The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to pay outstanding dues of over Rs 82.91 lakh to a vehicle owner whose 13 vehicles were hired for emergency and law-and-order duties between 2022 and 2024. Justice Devashis Baruah ruled that the owner is entitled to payment upon proper verification of claims and submission of required documents.

When Vehicles Serve the State but Invoices Go Unpaid

The petitioner, Sri Saranga Das, owned a fleet of vehicles including tankers, Boleros, Innova, Swift Dzire, and a Thar, all of which were hired by the Assam Police Commissionerate at various times for maintaining law and order and other emergency purposes. After the vehicles were released, Das submitted bills totaling Rs 82,91,075 to the authorities. However, despite repeated follow-ups, the payment was never made, prompting him to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The State’s Stand: Missing Documents Stalled Payment

Representing the respondents, Additional Senior Government Advocate Mr. K. Gogoi submitted that while it was admitted that the vehicles had been hired, the claim could not be processed because Das had not furnished up-to-date Registration Certificates, insurance documents, GST (3B) forms, driving licences, and declaration certificates. An instruction dated June 18, 2026, from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Guwahati, confirmed that Das had been informed about the document shortfall.

No Dispute on Hiring, Entitlement Follows

The court noted that there was no disagreement on the fact that the vehicles were taken on hire by the state authorities. “As it is an admitted fact that the Petitioner's vehicles were taken on hire by the Respondent Authorities, the Petitioner would be entitled to the amounts due upon proper verification of the claims,” Justice Baruah observed.

The court made it clear that the actual amount payable would be determined only after verification of the supporting documents. The petitioner’s counsel, Mr. N. Ali, assured the court that all necessary paperwork would be submitted.

Key Observations

“As it is an admitted fact that the Petitioner's vehicles were taken on hire by the Respondent Authorities, the Petitioner would be entitled to the amounts due upon proper verification of the claims.”

“Such verification shall be carried out upon submission of the Registration Certificates, Insurance, GST (3B) Forms, Driving Licence and Declaration Certificates.”

Directions for Expedited Resolution

The court disposed of the writ petition with clear directions:

  • Das must submit the required documents, along with a certified copy of the judgment, to the Office of the Director General of Police, Assam.
  • Upon receipt, the respondents shall verify the claim and pay the amount due, whether the full Rs 82,91,075 or any lesser sum found payable.
  • The entire exercise must be completed within six months from the date of document submission.

The ruling reinforces the principle that government authorities cannot indefinitely withhold payments for services rendered when the hiring itself is not in dispute. While verification is a legitimate requirement, it must be carried out promptly and fairly.