JUDGMENT

Dipak Misra, CJI

The singular question that emanates for consideration in this appeal is whether the forums below as well as the High Court is justified in disqualifying the appellant for continuing as a member of the Gram Panchayat Kalamba (Mahali) on the ground that there has been encroachment upon the government land since 1981 by her father-in-law and husband and she is using the said land. There are concurrent findings of fact that the father-in-law and the husband of the appellant have encroached upon the government land and despite notice, they have not vacated the same on one pretext or the other. As far as these findings are concerned, we are not inclined to interfere with the same as we are of the considered opinion that it is based on apposite analysis of the materials on record.

2. The pivotal issue that we have to address is whether the appellant incurs disqualification under the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1958 (for short, ‘the Act‘). Section 14 of the Act deals with the said disqualification. The relevant part of Sections 14(1) and 14(1)(j-3) reads as under:-

“14. Disqualifications.- (1) No person shall be a member of a Panchayat continue as such, who-

(a)