Shanmugam v. The Principal Secretary To
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 08.04.2024 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE J.SATHYA NARAYANA PRASAD Shanmugam ..
Petitioner Vs.
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Rural Development Department Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The Director Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Panagal Maaligai, 4th and 5th Floor
3. The Director Social Audit Society of Tamil Nadu Panagal Maaligai, 2nd Floor
4. The District Collector Kallakurichi - 606 202, Kallakurichi District.
5. The Project Director District Rural Development Agency Collector Office Buildings Kallakurichi - 606 202.
6. The Block Development Officer Rishivanthiyam Panchayat Union Rishivanthiyam - 607 801 Kallakurichi District.
7. The President Melapalangur, Noorolai Post Rishivanthiyam Panchayat Union Sankarapuram Taluk Kallakurichi District 606 205.
8. Subramanian ..
Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent to depute a team of officials for conducting special audit with physical verification of works at Melapalangur Village Panchayat in Rishivanthiyam Panchayat Union, Kallakurichi District based on petitioner representation dated 09.04.2022 within the time frame fixed by this court and if allegations are found true to take up further actions against the culprit in accordance with law including launching of criminal prosecution.
For the Petitioner : Mr.S.Kaithamalai Kumaran For the Respondents : Mr.C.Kathiravan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R5 Mr.A.Anandan Government Advocate for R6 No Appearance for R7 & R8
ORDER
(Made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard Mr.S.Kaithamalai Kumaran, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.C.Kathiravan, learned Special Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 5 and Mr.A.Anandan, learned Government Advocate for respondent 6.
2. On the last date, we directed the State authorities to file a status report. Today, status report has been filed by respondent 6.
3. In paragraph 3 of the said status report, it is stated that the District Panchayat Secretary, Kallakurichi is appointed to conduct a detailed enquiry into the allegations made by the petitioner of malpractice in various schemes like The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme, The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Scheme, The Indira Awas Yojna Scheme and the village panchayat works. Enquiry is in progress and the same would be completed within a period of fifteen days. Once the enquiry is completed and if the allegations are proved, necessary action would be
initiated against the concerned officials.
4. We accept the said status report as an undertaking to the Court. In view of that, the present writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
(S.V.G., CJ.) (J.S.N.P., J.) 08.04.2024 Index :
Yes/No :
Yes/No drm To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Rural Development Department Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The Director Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Panagal Maaligai, 4th and 5th Floor
3. The Director Social Audit Society of Tamil Nadu
Panagal Maaligai, 2nd Floor
4. The District Collector Kallakurichi - 606 202, Kallakurichi District.
5. The Project Director District Rural Development Agency Collector Office Buildings Kallakurichi - 606 202.
6. The Block Development Officer Rishivanthiyam Panchayat Union Rishivanthiyam - 607 801 Kallakurichi District.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND J.SATHYA NARAYANA PRASAD, J.
(drm) 08.04.2024