A long-pending payment dispute involving 13 vehicles hired by government authorities for emergency and law-and-order duties has reached the Gauhati High Court, which has directed Assam authorities to verify the owner’s claim and release the amount found payable.
Justice Devashis Barua passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by the vehicle owner, who alleged that payments for vehicles used by the authorities between 2022 and 2024 had remained outstanding despite repeated requests.
The petitioner owns 13 vehicles that were hired by the authorities on different occasions for emergency requirements, including duties related to the maintenance of law and order. The fleet included City Rides, water tankers, a Mahindra Thar, Swift Dzire, mini bus, Toyota Innova and Mahindra Bolero vehicles, among others. The vehicles were subsequently returned to the owner after they had been used for the required purposes.
According to the petition, the owner submitted bills totalling ₹82,91,075 after the vehicles were released. He claimed that despite approaching the concerned authorities on several occasions, the outstanding payments were not cleared. He subsequently moved the High Court against the Principal Secretary of the Assam Government’s Home Department, the DGP, Assam, and other concerned authorities.
During the hearing, the Additional Senior Government Advocate informed the court that the vehicles referred to in the petition had been hired by the Police Commissionerate for law-and-order-related duties. However, scrutiny of the bills showed that the owner had not furnished certain documents required for verification, including updated Registration Certificates, insurance documents, GST 3B forms, driving licences and declaration certificates.
The State also placed before the court an instruction dated June 18, 2026, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Guwahati. The communication required the vehicle owner to submit the necessary documents so that his payment claims could be examined further.
The High Court noted that it was an admitted position that the petitioner’s vehicles had been hired by the respondent authorities. The court therefore directed that the payment claim be considered after the required documents were submitted and the bills were properly verified.
The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the necessary documents would be furnished.
Following this, the High Court directed the vehicle owner to submit the required records along with a certified copy of the judgment to the office of the DGP, Assam. The authorities must then examine the claim and determine the amount, if any, that is payable to the petitioner.
The court directed that the authorities release the full claimed amount of ₹82,91,075 if it is found payable after verification, or such lesser amount as may be determined during the scrutiny of the claim.
The entire exercise has been ordered to be completed within six months from the date on which the vehicle owner submits the required documents and certified copy of the court’s order.
