B.Govindhan v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 16.12.2021 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR Writ Petition No.26846 of 2021 B.Govindhan

...Petitioner

-Vs1.The District Collector O/o The District Collector Villupuram District.

2.The Assistant Director of Panchayat Villupuram, Villupuram District.

3.The Block Development Officer Panchayat Union, Gingee Villupuram District.

...Respondents

Prayer : Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representations dated 18.09.2020 and 02.11.2020 at the earliest point of time in accordance with law.

For Petitioner : Mr.Y.Deva Arul Prakash For Respondents : Mr.K.Suresh, Government Advocate -for RR 1 and 2 Mr.M.Shahjahan, Special Government Pleader -for R3

O R D E R

The prayer sought for herein is for a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representations dated 18.09.2020 and 02.11.2020 at the earliest point of time in accordance with law.

2. The petitioner is the resident of a village called Thuttipattu Village, Pannankuppam Panchayat. According to the petitioner, in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) MGNREG Scheme in the Pannankuppam Village, there is large scale mismanagement resulting in misappropriation of funds being undertaken at the behest of the third respondent and the Village President. Therefore, in order to take action against these people and to set right the things so that the Scheme funds are properly utilized, the petitioner has given a representation to the first respondent District Collector on 18.09.2020 and again on 02.11.2020 and since the said representations have not been considered, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing this writ petition with the aforesaid prayer.

3. Heard Mr.Y.Deva Arul Prakash, learned counsel for the petitioner, who would submit that, despite the said representations given by the petitioner having been forwarded by the second respondent to the Deputy Block Development Officer in charge of the MGNREG Scheme as early as on 05.11.2020, so far no action has been taken and nothing was forthcoming and therefore, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

4. Heard Mr.K.Suresh, learned Government Advocate appearing for the first and second respondents and Mr.Shahjahan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the third respondent.

5. Learned Government Advocate and the learned Special Government Pleader would submit that, if at all representation has been given by the petitioner making certain allegations with regard to the functioning of the MGNREG Scheme in the village concerned, the same would be considered and necessary suitable action would be taken in accordance with law within a time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

6. Considering the limited scope of the prayer and having taken note of the submissions made by the learned counsel for both sides, this Court is inclined to pass the following order. "That there shall be a direction to the first respondent District Collector to consider the representations submitted by the petitioner on 18.09.2020 and 02.11.2020 and take suitable action thereon by disposing of the same on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order."

7. With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-II) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar KST To 1.The District Collector, O/o The District Collector, Villupuram District.

2.The Assistant Director of Panchayat, Villupuram, Villupuram District.

3.The Block Development Officer, Panchayat Union, Gingee, Villupuram District.

+1cc to Government Pleader SR. No.67953 +1cc to Mr.Y.Deva Arul Prakash, SR. No.67364 W.P.No. 26846 of 2021 PVS (CO) PR (31/01/2022)