Delhi High Court - Orders
Pranay Ranjan vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi Through: Chief ... on 18 February, 2021
Author: Prathiba M. Singh
Bench: Prathiba M. Singh
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:DINESH
SINGH NAYAL
Signing Date:20.02.2021
21:55:09
$~30
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 2242/2021 & CM APPL. 6489/2021
PRANAY RANJAN ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. Mrigank Prabhakar, Advocate
(M-9953068680)
Versus
GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH: CHIEF
SECRETARY ..... Respondent
Through: Mr. Devesh Singh, Advocate.
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
ORDER
% 18.02.2021
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode (physical and virtual hearing).
2. The present petition is yet another case filed against the GNCTD seeking payment of professional bills of the Petitioner, who is a lawyer.
3. Repeated orders have been passed by this Court, including the ld. Division Bench in W.P.(C) 5373/2020 titled Piyush Gupta v. GNCTD & Ors., wherein it was directed that an Online Single Window System be created for clearance of professional bills. The said order reads as under:
"Proceedings in the matter have been conducted through video conferencing.
We have heard learned counsel for both the sides at length.
Looking to the facts of the case, it appears that several grievances have been ventilated about the non-payment of professional fee/retainership fee bills of empanelled Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRATHIBA M SINGH Signing Date:20.02.2021 17:33 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DINESH SINGH NAYAL Signing Date:20.02.2021 21:55:09 lawyers, which are outstanding for long time, by the respondents.
Learned counsel for respondent No.1/GNCTD submitted that recently a decision has been taken by respondent No.1 to adopt Online Single Window System for clearance of professional bills. By way of the said system, bills can be raised online and there can be expeditious payment of the bills raised by the empanelled counsel for respondent No. 1. It is further submitted by counsel of respondent No.1 that they shall release the amount towards the outstanding bills of the empanelled lawyers of respondent no.l as early as possible and practicable.
Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case and after hearing learned counsel for both the sides, we hereby direct all the respondents to make the outstanding payments of the professional fee/retainership fee bills of the lawyers which have been received by the respondents on or before 01.02.2020. The payments against said bills shall be made within a period of four weeks from today. List on 29.09.2020."
4. Despite the same, it appears that the bills are not being cleared and lawyers are being compelled to file writ petitions.
5. In the present case, ld. Counsel for the Petitioner submits that during pendency of the writ, professional bills of 2018 have not been cleared, however, professional bills of 2019 have been cleared. A complete statement has been placed on record. The outstanding amount as per the Petitioner is Rs.3,46,500/-.
6. The present writ petition be transmitted to the Law Secretary, GNCTD. It is directed that the bills of the Petitioner, subject to verification, shall be cleared within a period of 30 days.
Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRATHIBA M SINGH Signing Date:20.02.2021 17:33 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DINESH SINGH NAYAL Signing Date:20.02.2021 21:55:097. The petition is disposed of in the above terms. All pending applications are also disposed of. The Petitioner is permitted to move an application if the dues are not cleared, in which case, the Court would be constrained to direct payment of interest on the outstanding dues and impose costs.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J.
FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Rahul/T Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRATHIBA M SINGH Signing Date:20.02.2021 17:33