SURINDER KUMAR CONTRACTOR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this order five Civil Writ Petitions i.e CWP-5257, 21944, 2294, 5755 of 2020 and CWP- 656 of 2021 shall stand disposed of.

(2.) These writ petitions have been filed by the Contractors praying for issuance of a direction to the respondents-State of Punjab or its instrumentalities to release of the payment due towards them since they, after completing the work allotted to them by way of tender or otherwise, have submitted their final claim/bills.

(3.) It has been noticed that a large number of writ petitions are filed in the High Court claiming that payments are not released to the contractors for quite a while. At one stage, the State of Punjab admitted that there is a financial crunch in the State and efforts are being made to and connected cases 3 deal with the same in the best possible manner. It appears the situation still continues. No doubt, the State or its instrumentalities have no discretion to not pay to the contractors/suppliers after their work/supplies have been completed. However, the question is what should be the the most justifiable solution in the prevailing situation?