M.Saravanan v. The Director
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 17.02.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE J.SATHYA NARAYANA PRASAD and WMP.No.5723 of 2025 1.M.Saravanan 2.M.Manju 3.B.Prema ... Petitioners vs.
1.The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.
2. The District Collector, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu 603 111.
3. The Project Director, Rural Development Agency, Office of the District Collector, Chengalpattu District.
4. The Assistant Director (Panchayat), Office of the District Collector, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu 603 111.
5. The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat), Thiruporur, Chengalpattu District 603 110.
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6. Gowthami .. Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 2 to 4 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent who is the President of Melakottaiyur Village Panchayat and to pass appropriate orders upon the representation dated 07.10.2024 after proper and careful perusal of the documents and evidences produced by the petitioners, within a time frame as fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.E.Prabu For R1 & R2 : Mr.E.Veda Begath Singh Spl.Govt.Pleader For R3 to R5 : Mr.M.Rajendiran Addl.Govt.Pleader
ORDER
By consent, the Writ Petition is taken up and disposed of at the admission stage itself.
2. The present writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent who is the Page No.2 of 6
President of Melakottaiyur Village Panchayat and to pass appropriate orders upon the representation dated 07.10.2024 after proper and careful perusal of the documents and evidences produced by the petitioners, within a time frame as fixed by this Court.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner along with 8 others were elected as members in the Local Body Election conducted in the year 2021 for Melakottaiyur Village Panchayat, Chengalpattu District. The 6th respondent, namely, Mrs.Gowthami who is the elected President of the Panchayat and her husband by name, Mr.Arumugam, is acting as the defacto President of the said Panchayat and they have been indulging in many financial irregularities in carrying out the public works within the Panchayat limits. The 6th respondent operates in the Panchayat by taking contracts for laying roads in the name of a contractor as his Binami. The roads laid by him from 2022 to 2024 are sub-standard and has swindled several cores of rupees by presenting bills with inflated estimates. The estimates are not properly circulated to all the members including the petitioners. Hence, the petitioner filed a complaint against the 6th respondent dated 11.01.2023 to the 4th and 5th respondents. Thereafter, Page No.3 of 6
the petitioner has given another complaint to the 4th respondent dated 21.01.2023. However no action has been taken on the said complaints. Therefore, the petitioner sent a representation dated 07.10.2024 to the respondents 1 to 5 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has come forward with the present writ petition.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that he has given a representation dated 07.10.2024 and subsequent representation dated 25.11.2024 to the respondents 2 to 4 to take appropriate action against the 6th respondent on the allegation of the corruption and the said representations were not considered by the second respondent till date.
5. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 3 to 5 submitted that the representations of the petitioner dated 07.10.2024 and 25.11.2024 will be considered on merits and in accordanc with law within a time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.
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6. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and also perused the materials available on records.
7. In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and without going into the merits of the case, the second respondent is directed to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 07.10.2024 and subsequent representation dated 25.11.2024 after giving due notice to the petitioner as well as the 6th respondent, affording opportunity of personal hearing, on merits, in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
8. This writ petition stands disposed of with the above direction. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 17.02.2025 Index : Yes/No.
Internet : Yes/No.
Speaking : Non-speaking Order kkd Page No.5 of 6
J.SATHYA NARAYANA PRASAD, J.
kkd To 1.The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.
2. The District Collector, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu 603 111.
3. The Project Director, Rural Development Agency, Office of the District Collector, Chengalpattu District.
4. The Assistant Director (Panchayat), Office of the District Collector, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu 603 111.
5. The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat), Thiruporur, Chengalpattu District 603 110.
17.02.2025 Page No.6 of 6