Non-Payment Of Dues Affects Right To Dignity: Andhra Pradesh High Court Seeks Report On Financial Status Of State

It observed that such non-payment violates the right to life and dignity of the Petitioners and is thus violative of Article 21 of the Constitution.

"In the considered opinion of this Court, it is nothing but depriving the petitioners and their family members for survival, to make payments to their employees/workers, to make payments to the material they procured and for the interests they have to pay for the debts in respect of execution of works. Due to this situation, petitioners' respect and dignity in the society will be destroyed. As such, the petitioners right to life with respect and dignity will be defeated which is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India," a Bench of Justice Battu Devanand observed.

The Petitioners had moved the High Court against withholding of a sum Rs. 21,41,346/- (payable to the first petitioner) and Rs. 16,49,568/- (payable to the second petitioner) for the works completed by them prior to 2019. It was submitted that consequently, the Petitioners are facing severe financial crisis.

The Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj however submitted that the bills are not cleared by the State as there are no funds available with the Government.

Expressing its anguish and displeasure towards such submission and attitude of the Respondents, the Court remarked that the financial condition of the state is in very pathetic condition.

"In both cases the petitioners executed works prior to 2019 and 2018 respectively. Though the petitioners are approaching the respondents to clear their bills and for payments, the respondents are saying no funds are available.

The instructions placed by the learned Government Pleader also giving impression to this Court that the financial condition of the state is in very pathetic condition," the order stated.

In view of the above, the Court has asked the Principal Secretary, Department of Finance and Planning, Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Principal Secretary, Department of Panchayat Raj, Government of Andhra Pradesh to appear before it along with complete information pertaining to the financial status of the State Government.

Case Title: CK Yarram Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh

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