T.Annamalai, v. D.Baskara Panidan, I.A.S.,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 26.11.2024 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.K.R.SHRIRAM, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY T.Annamalai .. Petitioner Vs D.Baskara Pandian, I.A.S., District Collector, Collectorate, Thiruvannamalai District - 606 604.

.. Respondent Prayer : Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondent for his deliberate and willful disobedience of the order of this Court passed on 27.06.2023 in W.P. No.6747 of 2023 confirmed the earlier order.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Ramesh Manikandan For Respondent : Mr.A.Edwin Prabakar State Government Pleader assisted by Mr.K.Suresh Government Advocate

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The Collector is present here pursuant to the directions given by this court on 5.11.2024. An affidavit is also filed by the Collector, Shri Baskara Pandiyan, affirmed on 15.11.2024, in which it is stated that action has been taken against the Panchayat President under Section 203 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, by which the cheque signing power of the Panchayat President has been revoked. A copy of the order is also made available to this court. Though the order does not indicate the outer limit, the Collector, who is present in court, states that the cheque signing power has been revoked until further orders. The Collector also states the Panchayat President as well as her husband have given an assurance that the Panchayat President's husband will not enter the President's office ever and, therefore, the Collector feels the question of Panchayat President's husband sitting again on the President's chair may not arise.

2. We are also informed by Shri Prabakar that a complaint has been lodged by the Block Development Officer to the Police on 14.11.2024 about

the Panchayat President's husband sitting on the chair of the Panchayat President and requesting the police to take action in accordance with law. Shri Prabakar states that the police will apply Section 204 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which is pari materia to Section 170 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3. In view of the statement made by the Collector, as recorded above, the petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. (K.R.SHRIRAM, C.J.) (SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY,J.) 26.11.2024 Index :

Yes/No NC :

Yes/No sasi

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY,J.

(sasi) 26.11.2024