Ungaral Balakrishna S/O Sadvanstrassitna v. The District Collector (Panchayat

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P. NAVEEN RAO Writ Petition No.13465 of 2015 ORDER:

The petitioner is a resident of Peddakottakota, Pedakollivalasa Gram Panchayat, Laxmi Narsupeta Mandal, Srikakulam District. He alleges that the 4th respondent, Sarpanch, and 5th respondentSecretary have colluded and misappropriated huge funds of the Gram Panchayat. Alleging such misdeeds, the petitioner filed a complaint before the District Collector (Panchayat Raj), Srikakulam District, on 1512-2014, which was followed by another representation dated 09-012015. He also marked a copy of the representation to the Extension Officer (Panchayat Raj & Rural Development), the 2nd respondent herein, but so far no action is taken. Hence, this writ petition.

Heard Sri S.R. Sanku, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, for respondents 1 to 3, and Sri Ravi Cheemalapati, learned counsel for the respondents 4 and 5. The learned Government Pleader has produced written instructions furnished to him by the District Panchayat Officer (FAC), Srikakulam, dated 10-06-2015. The instructions, inter alia disclose that having noticed the allegations against the Sarpanch and the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat, the District Panchayat Officer through proceedings dated 27-01-2015, referred the matter to the Extension Officer, the 2nd respondent herein, for conducting a detailed enquiry, and the report is awaited.

Having regard to the said submissions, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the writ petition is disposed of directing the District Panchayat Officer, Srikakulam to conclude the proceedings initiated by him on 27-01-2015; direct the Extension Officer, the 2nd respondent, to complete the enquiry and submit his report as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from today; and based on the report of the 2nd respondent, he shall take further action, in accordance with law. In the event of the District Panchayat Officer dropping the proceedings against the Sarpanch and the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat, such decision shall be communicated to the petitioner. The decision to this extent shall be taken and proceedings thereon shall be passed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the report from the Extension Officer. The miscellaneous petitions, if any, filed in the writ petition shall also stand disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________________ P. NAVEEN RAO, J.

Dt.16-06-2015.

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