Pre-GST unpaid bills must be reconsidered promptly, with payment or revenue dispute to be decided within four weeks

Unpaid bills for pre-GST works were required to be reconsidered through a fresh representation to the Executive Engineer, with copies of the bills and the order. The respondent was directed to either sanction and disburse the payment or raise any dispute regarding revenue payable within four weeks. If a dispute is raised, the petitioner may seek interest for the entire period. The writ petition was disposed of on these directions, with the claim left to be processed in light of the GST transition issue.

---

---

Issues: Whether the petitioner's claim for unpaid bills arising from pre-GST works required immediate sanction and disbursement, and how the claim should be processed in light of the GST transition issue.

Analysis: The dispute concerned bills for work executed between 2011 and 2014, which remained unpaid on the stated ground of transition to the GST regime. The Court directed the petitioner to make a fresh representation to the Executive Engineer with copies of the unpaid bills and the order, and required the respondent to either sanction and disburse the payment or raise a dispute regarding revenue payable within four weeks. The Court also recorded that, if a dispute is raised, the petitioner may claim interest for the entire period.

Outcome: The writ petition was disposed of with directions for reconsideration and decision on the petitioner's representation.

---