GAUHATI HIGH COURT ISSUES ORDER ON AJB MERCHANTILE AND ANR V/S THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 3 ORS

GUWAHATI, India, Jan. 7 -- Gauhati High Court issued the following order on DEc. 8:

1. Heard Mr. B. Haldar, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners. Ms. G. Borah, the learned counsel appears on behalf of the Agriculture Department and Mr. S. Chamaria, the learned counsel appears on behalf of the Assam Seeds Corporation Limited.

2. The instant writ petition is filed by the petitioners challenging the non-payment of the contractual bill amount of Rs.93,15,627/- for the supply work awarded to the petitioners vide the work order dated 28.09.2025 issued by the respondent No.4, i.e. the Managing Director, Assam Seeds Corporation Limited.

3. The case of the petitioners herein is that the petitioner No.1 is a proprietorship firm and the petitioner No.2 is the representative of the petitioner No.1. Pursuant to the E-Tender process issued on 05.02.2019 by the respondent No.4, i.e. the Managing Director, Assam Seeds Corporation, the respondent No.3 issued indent for supply certified Groundnut Seeds under Flood Restoration of Disaster Management, 2021-22. The respondent No.4 thereafter issued supply order dated 28.09.2025 to the petitioners. The petitioners supplied certified Groundnut Seeds to the tune of 2745 quintals to various district as per supply order dated 28.09.2025. The petitioners after completion of the aforesaid supply work had submitted the bills amounting to Rs.2,27,80,755/- and part payment of Rs.1,34,65,128/- was made to the petitioner on 08.04.2022 keeping the balance amount of Rs.93,15,627/-. The petitioners submitted representation before the respondent No.4 on 27.03.2025 demanding remaining amount of Rs.93,15,627/-. However, the Respondent Authorities have not yet paid the outstanding admitted bill amount to the petitioners. Hence the writ pettion.

4. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submitted that similarly situated contractors out of the same E- Procurement Notice dated 05.09.2019 had approached this Court by filing a batch of writ petitions being WP(C) No.3903/2023; WP(C) No.3882/2023 and WP(C) No.455/2025 which were disposed of vide the order dated 25.03.2025 directing the Respondent Authorities to clear the outstanding contractual dues of the petitioner in the said batch of writ petitions. 5. Ms. G. Borah, the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Agriculture Department has placed an instruction before this Court which is kept on record and marked with the letter "X".

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=A9S7c5LDIsB6RXaCf816x56wboTNWr7lmN6e%2B%2F4zGToncS71BmTATNY3jOCYmzMM&caseno=WP(C)/5420/2025&cCode=1&cino=GAHC010203392025&state_code=6&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.