Vanampally Bal Reddy v. The State Of Telangana, Rep. By Its Principal Secretary,

HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA KODANDA RAM WRIT PETITION No. 5025 of 2016 DATED 17TH FEBRUARY, 2016 BETWEEN Vanampally Bal Reddy and ors

...Petitioners

And The State of Telangana, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayatraj Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and ors.

..Respondents HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE CHALLA KODANDA RAM WRIT PETITION No. 5025 of 2016 ORDER:

Heard learned Counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Panchatraj appearing for respondents 1 to 3 and 5 and Sri G.Narender Reddy, learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondent No.4.

The impugned notice dated 25.01.2016 issued by the fourth respondent-Gram Panchayat directing the petitioners to remove the compound walls and house properties is challenged before this Court.

A perusal of the impugned notice issued by the fourth respondent-Gram Panchayat, reveals that the Road and Buildings Department proposed to widen the 30 feet BT road

from Indrakal to Yadireddypalli village by 50 feet. The fourth respondent-Grampanchayat in its meeting resolved for widening the road. Since the compound walls and house properties of the petitioners are causing obstruction for widening the BT road, the impugned notice has been issued to the petitioners to remove the same.

The impugned notice issued directing the petitioners to remove the compound walls and house properties virtually amounts to 'an order', which was passed without prior notice to the petitioners. However, as the Gram Panchayat is vested with power conferred under Section 98 of the Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the impugned communication shall be treated as show cause notice and the petitioners are at liberty to submit their explanation within two weeks from today. If such explanations are filed, the fourth respondent-Gram Panchayat shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders in terms of Section 98 of the Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. Till the orders are passed by the fourth respondent, there shall not be any interference with the compound walls and house properties of the petitioners. Subject to the above, the Writ Petition is disposed of. Miscellaneous petitions pending consideration if any in the Writ Petition shall stand closed in consequence. No order as to costs.

--------------------------------------------------- JUSTICE CHALLA KODANDA RAM DATED 17TH February, 2016.

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