GAUHATI HIGH COURT ISSUES ORDER ON PRANAB DEKA V/S THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 3 ORS

GUWAHATI, India, Oct. 23 -- Gauhati High Court issued the following order on Sept. 23:

1. The instant writ petition is filed by the petitioner challenging the non-payment of the contractual bill of Rs.7,58,566/- for the work awarded to the petitioner vide the work order dated 23.11.2020 issued by the Managing Director, Assam Seeds Corporation Ltd. for supplying Summer Hybrid Vegetable Seeds under Food Damage Restoration under Disaster Management, 2020-21 under the terms and conditions mentioned in the said work order.

2. The case of the petitioner herein is that on 09.11.2020, the Director of Agriculture, Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Assam issued an indent to the Managing Director, Assam Seed Corporation Limited for supply of Summer Hybrid Vegetables Seeds under Flood Damage Restoration under Disaster Management, 2020-21. Following this indent, the Assam Seed Corporation Limited issued a work order dated 23.11.2020 in favour of the petitioner for supplying 480 kits of Hybrid Vegetable Seeds in the district of Tinsukia. The petitioner thereafter supplied the said Hybrid Vegetable Seeds in the district of Tinsukia within the stipulated time and it was acknowledged and admitted by the Branch Manager and District Agricultural Officer, Tinsukia. However, out of the total amount of Rs. 14,20,800/- due to the petitioner, only an amount of Rs. 6,62,234/- has been paid, though the authorities have admitted and verified that the petitioner has completed the entire supply. Despite repeated approaches, the petitioner received no satisfactory explanation from the Respondent Authorities for not making the balance payment of Rs.7,58,566/- for which the present writ petition is filed.

3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been pursuing the matter delinquently with the respondents, but the Respondent Authorities have not shown any interest in making the payment of the admitted amount of Rs.7,58,566/- due to the petitioner for which the petitioner is facing hardship. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the Respondent Authorities have failed to discharge their duty in accordance with law and the same has caused prejudice to the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition.

4. Ms. G. Borah, the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Agriculture Department submitted that necessary verification process is going on as regards the entitlement of the petitioner of an amount of Rs.7,58,566/- and in that regard placed an instruction before this Court which is kept on record and marked with the letter "X".

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=bzPoyUlszYLCUcCpirIpqPgkGbM%2B%2FqmVPuwsldoHdFol3ZaKmvaC%2F718xSSyntB3&caseno=WP(C)/2189/2024&cCode=1&cino=GAHC010081762024&state_code=6&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.