Petitioner's claim of Rs. 82.91 lakh for vehicles used by State authorities for emergency and law and order purposes upheld, subject to submission of requisite documents.
In a significant ruling delivered on August 14, 2026, the Gauhati High Court, presided over by Justice Devashis Baruah, adjudicated a writ petition filed by Sri Saranga Das seeking payment of outstanding dues for vehicles hired by the Assam Police and other government authorities during 2022 to 2024. The petitioner, owner of multiple vehicles, claimed payment amounting to Rs. 82,91,075/-, which remained unpaid despite repeated requests.
The vehicles in question, including City Ride cars, water tankers, mini buses, and Bolero SUVs, were hired for crucial emergency services and law and order maintenance. The petitioner contended that bills were submitted promptly after the release of each vehicle, but the government authorities failed to clear the dues without providing any justification.
During the hearing, the Additional Senior Government Advocate, Mr. K. Gogoi, informed the court that the non-payment was due to incomplete documentation submitted by the petitioner. Specifically, up-to-date Registration Certificates (RC), Insurance papers, GST (3B) returns, valid Driving Licenses, and Declaration Certificates were not furnished as required. The court noted an official instruction dated June 18, 2026, from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Guwahati, which corroborated this stance and confirmed that the petitioner was requested to submit the necessary documents for verification.
Justice Baruah emphasized that since it was undisputed the vehicles were hired by the government, the petitioner deserved payment subject to proper verification of the claims. The court directed Sri Saranga Das to submit all requisite documents, including RC, insurance, GST filings, driving license, and declaration certificates, along with a certified copy of the judgment to the Director General of Police, Assam.
The respondents were ordered to verify the documents promptly and ensure the payment of the claimed amount or any other amount found due after verification. The entire verification and payment process was mandated to be completed within six months from the date of submission.
This judgment underscores the importance of adhering to procedural compliance for government payments while safeguarding the rights of service providers who extend their resources for public purposes. It also highlights judicial intervention to ensure government accountability in timely disbursal of dues.
Bottom Line:
Vehicles hired by Government authorities for official purposes - Entitlement to payment of outstanding dues subject to submission of requisite documents for verification.
Statutory provision(s):
Article 226 of the Constitution of India
Sri Saranga Das v. State of Assam, (Gauhati) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2975022
