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Judgment
The petitioner is aggrieved by the action on part of Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 in not applying the labour component for the Mazdoor(Skilled) Co-efficient of 8 numbers per 10 square meters for laying of the highly polished granites as per the standard data specified in GOMS No. 49, Irrigation and, Command Area, Department dated 02.03.2009 for finalization of the payment by extending the benefit of the price escalation and adjustments as per GOMS No. 35, Roads, Transport and Buildings, Department dated 30.10.2009 in comparison with the standard schedule of rates mentioned in the agreements between the petitioner and the respondents.
The petitioner entered into agreements to construct the Ekala Viya model residential school for girls at various places in Alluri Seetharama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh; thereafter, the petitioner completed the work, submitted the final bills in 2023, and is awaiting payment. It is submitted that the then Chief Engineer, Tribal Welfare Department, raised illegal demands on the petitioner to clear the petitioner's bills. It is submitted that the petitioner was constrained to approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau; thereafter, a trap was laid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against the then Chief Engineer-cum-Superintendent Engineer, and he was caught red-handed in the said trap with tainted money of ₹25,00,000/- on 07.08.2025.
It is submitted that the first respondent issued GOMS No. 49, Irrigation and Land Development, dated 02.03.2009, updating the Andhra Pradesh standard data in all the engineering Public Works Departments. Whereas the basic components for preparing any site estimate are standard specifications, standard data, and the standard schedule of rates, which include construction materials, skilled and unskilled labour, and hire charges for machinery utilised for the work.
It is submitted that Andhra Pradesh Standard Data was revised in the year 01.06.2021 It is also submitted that The first respondent issued GoMS No. 35 , roads Transport and Building Department , dated 30.10.2009, wherein price adjustment and escalation for all ongoing and future building work The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that while making payment to the contractors The concerned authorities would take measurements of the work executed and arrive at the quantities of labour common missionary and material used for execution of the work based on the standard data and thereafter multiply the same with the standard schedule of rates to arrive at the exact value of work executed and Thereafter, the payment would be made to the contractor.
It is submitted that the petitioner executed work for 7 schools , and the petitioner's representative was present when the Final work estimate was prepared. The respondent used the coefficient of 0.86 Mazdoor(unskilled) for laying 10 sq meters of granite, contrary to the standard of 8 Mazdoor (Unskilled) for laying a 10 square meters of granite. The same was brought to the notice of the 4th and 5th respondents by submitting a representation dated 04.12.2025. It is submitted that the respondent authority has altered and revised the work estimate for 2 schools and, for the reasons better known to the 4th respondent has not revised the work estimate for the other 5 schools It is submitted that the work estimate would have to be in consonance with the existing guidelines and GoMS No. 49 and GOMS No. 35.
It is submitted that the respondent has filed a counter, duly tabulating standard data approved for preparing the final work estimate for Granite flooring, and it is submitted that the standard data for granite flooring , as per GOMS No. 49, is mentioned in the counter. It is submitted that the approved data is at the rate of 0.86 , instead of taking it as 8. It is also admitted by the respondents, that they shall apply the complete standard data prescribed for granite flouring under GOMS No. 49 in its entirety.
After perusing the counter, the admission about the error that crept in while preparing the final estimate, the granite flooring work executed by the petitioner was erroneously computed at 0.86 instead of the standard 8. On the admission of respondent No. 4, the writ petition deserves to be allowed.
Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed, directing the respondents concerned to forthwith rectify the error committed in preparing the Final work estimate for the 5 schools, duly taking into consideration the unskilled labour component at the standard rate of 8 unskilled labourers for laying 10 Sq.Mt Granite Floor. The respondents shall forthwith prepare the revised work estimate, in accordance with G.O.Ms.No. 49, for the 5 schools, insofar as the petitioner's work is concerned, and release payment due to the petitioner within six (6) weeks of receipt of the order.
With the above observation, the writ petition is allowed. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed.