Guwahati Oct 3: The Gauhati High Court has reprimanded the Assam government for its delay in making payments to a contractor, Rishi Gupta, who has not received dues for work completed over the past two years.
This directive came after Gupta filed a writ petition seeking redress for the non-payment of his bills related to projects completed for the Foreigners’ Tribunal.
A single-judge bench led by Justice Michael Zothankhuma expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s failure to release payments, emphasizing the importance of timely compensation, especially in light of the ongoing allocation of funds for various beneficiary schemes.
The court has now ordered the Assam government to expedite the payment process, ensuring that the contractor receives what is owed for the work already completed.
The court has strongly criticized the Assam government for failing to pay contractor Rishi Gupta despite an earlier directive to clear his dues by September 30. In an earlier ruling on August 16, the court had ordered the government to settle Gupta’s outstanding payments, which were acknowledged by the government as legitimate claims for work completed on the FT.
The government, in response, submitted a letter from the Joint Secretary to the Home and Political Department, stating that while there is insufficient budget provision for full payment, steps are being taken to make a partial payment. Additionally, a request has been made for funds from the contingency fund to cover the remaining balance.
However, Dr. A. Saraf, counsel for Gupta, argued that the state’s justification for the non-payment is unacceptable, especially when the government is actively distributing financial aid and loans under various schemes. The petitioner also referenced media reports indicating that the government had issued loans to over 25,000 aspirants, with half of the loan amount being given as a free grant.
The court, in response, reaffirmed that there was no valid reason for not clearing the contractor’s dues, particularly in light of the government’s financial allocations for other programs. It further directed the state government to provide a detailed account of the funds allocated for loans to first-time entrepreneurs.
The court has set November 20 as the next hearing date and expects the contractor’s dues to be settled by then.
