The Allahabad High Court has directed Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, Jaunpur to decide within a month on the payment of more than Rs 33 lakh to M/S Kn Engineering Company.
The Division bench of Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Donadi Ramesh passed this order while hearing a petition filed by M/S Kn Engineering Company.
Relying on communications dated 23.03.2023, 29.03.2023 and 19.04.2023 issued by the Executive Engineer, Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited, Jaunpur, bearing amounts Rs 460826/-, Rs 2618433/- and Rs 22,77,72/-, totaling Rs 33,070,31/-, is claimed by the petitioner.
As a reason for delay, Udit Chandra, counsel for the respondents submitted that at sometime is taken for making due verifications before payment be made.
In the facts of the case, the Court found more than one year and six months had passed. All verifications should have been done and payment of the admitted amount released, by now.
In view of such facts and circumstances, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the writ petition pending or calling for a counter affidavit at this stage, the Court observed.
The decision is to be made by respondent no 3. Since that decision may not have been made, the Court disposed of the petition with a direction to respondent no 3 may take an informed decision, with respect to the claim made by the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, necessarily, within a period of one month. If any amount is found due and payable, the same may be paid out to the petitioner within a further period of one month, failing which the same shall attract interest at the rate of 8 per cent from the date of final bill submitted upto the date of actual payment made.