CHIEF ENGINEER, PWD NATIONAL HIGHWAYS Vs. SATHEEK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Appeal is filed challenging the judgment of the learned Single Judge dtd. 19/7/2024 in W.P.(C) No.17963 of 2022. Appellants were respondents 3 to 6 in the W.P.(C) and respondents are the petitioner and respondents 1 and 2 in the W.P.(C). Parties are hereinafter referred to as per their status in the Writ Petition.

(2.) The Writ Petition was filed by the petitioner contractor inter alia seeking to quash Ext.P10 order dtd. 2/9/2021 and Ext.P12 letter dtd. 15/11/2021 issued by the Public Works Department and seeking a direction to the respondents to pay an amount of Rs.60,66,720.00 as demanded by him in Ext.P13, which according to him is the interest payable for the amount which had been withheld by the Department.

(3.) The learned Single Judge allowed the Writ Petition and quashed Ext.P10 and P12 to the extent they limited the payment of interest to 1% below the Treasury Savings Bank rate. The learned Single Judge also directed the respondents to pay the petitioner interest on the sum of Rs.19,33,205.00 at the rate of 12% per annum (simple interest) from 31/3/2010 till the date of payment, after deducting the amounts already paid. The said judgment is impugned in this appeal.