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Madras High CourtWP/12205/2026disposed of

S.M.Settu v. The Inspector Of Panchayats And District Collector

2026-03-27Honourable Mr Justice Abdul Quddhose4 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-03-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE WP No. 12205 of 2026 AND WMP NO. 13321 OF 2026 S.M.Settu Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Inspector of Panchayats and District Collector Ranipet district, Ranipet 2.The Assistant Director (Panchayats) Ranipet district, Ranipet 3.The Block Development officer (VP) Arcot Panchayat Union, Arcot and post, Ranipet district 4.Thiru. Elangovan Respondent(s) PRAYER calling for the records pertaining to the show cause notice issued by the second respondent but signed by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No. A2/ 1211/ 2024 dated 6/08/2025 and the final orders of the first respondent passed in Na.Ka.No. A2/ 1211/ 2024 dated 10.03.2026 and the consequent Tamil Nadu Gazette Notification dated 13/03/2026 and quash the same and consequently direct the first respondent to restore the petitioner to post of the President of Sathur Village Panchayat, Arcot Panchayat Union, Ranipet district.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.S.Kamadevan For Respondent(s):

Mr.N.Naveenkumar Govt.Advocate For R1 to R3 R4 -Pvt

ORDER

The petitioner has been removed as a Panchayat President under Section 205 of the Panchayats Act under the impugned order. 2.Though the petitioner has challenged the impugned order by filing this writ petition, the learned counsel for the petitioner would now submit that the petitioner will exercise the statutory appeal remedy available as per the provisions of Section 205(12) of the Panchayats Act before the competent appellate authority instead of pursuing this writ petition. 3.In view of the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this writ petition is disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioner to file a statutory appeal before the competent appellate authority as per the provisions of Section 205(12) of the Panchayats Act. 4.The petitioner shall file a statutory appeal before the competent appellate authority, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and the competent appellate authority shall dispose of the said

appeal as expeditiously as possible, considering the fact that the tenure of the petitioner comes to an end in October 2026.

5.The original impugned order which is filed by the petitioner in this writ petition shall be returned to the counsel for the petitioner by the registry to enable the petitioner to file a statutory appeal. Consequently, connected WMP is closed. No costs.

27-03-2026 vga To 1.The Inspector of Panchayats and District Collector Ranipet district, Ranipet 2.The Assistant Director (Panchayats) Ranipet district, Ranipet 3.The Block Development officer (VP) Arcot Panchayat Union, Arcot and post, Ranipet district

ABDUL QUDDHOSE J.

vga AND WMP NO. 13321 OF 2026 27-03-2026