Meda Lakshmaiah S/0 Muthaiah, v. The State Of Telangana, Rep By Its Principal Secretary,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE A.RAMALINGESWARA RAO WRIT PETITION No. 26991 of 2017 ORDER:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development for 1 and 3.

The petitioner states that he belongs to Scheduled Caste community and he was elected as Sarpanch of Konijarla Gram Panchayat, Konijarla Mandal, Khammam District in the elections held in 2014. He further states that since he was uneducated, he was depending on the Secretary of the Gram Panchayat for maintaining the records. While so, a news item was published in Eenadu District Edition stating that Sarpanches of several Gram Panchayats have not been properly maintaining the records for the grants received from the Government of India and the State Government. He further states that in the said news item, the District Audit Officer raised several objections with regard to the funds sanctioned to the Gram Panchayats.

He also states that since he belongs to Congress Party, action was initiated against him without taking similar action against other Sarpanches belonging to the ruling party. Respondent No.3-District Panchayat Officer, Khammam issued a notice calling upon the petitioner to submit his explanation and though he submitted his explanation, without considering the same, respondent No.

proceedings, dated 14.07.2017, freezing his cheque-drawing powers.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that against the proceedings impugned, an appeal was filed before respondent No.2-District Collector, Khammam on 21.07.2017 and the same is not yet disposed of.

Though the representation of the petitioner, dated 21.07.2017, cannot be construed as an appeal, since he submitted the representation for restoration of cheque-drawing powers, respondent No.2 is directed to consider the same by going through the record and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this writ petition shall stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________________ A.RAMALINGESWARA RAO,J Dt:18.08.2017 Note: Issue cc in one week.

(B/o) kdl