M.S. Ramachandra Rao, J.

1. Heard Sri N. Siva Reddy, learned counsel for petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj for respondent Nos. 1 to 4, Sri G. Elishai learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos. 5 and 6, and Sri V. Venu Gopala Rao, learned counsel for 7th respondent.

2. In this Writ petition an interesting question as to "Whether the office of a Grampanchayat could be shifted from the building where it is presently located to another building, without the said Grampanchayat being consulted at all, at the instance of the Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat and the then Hon'ble Minister for the State Government?"

3. The petitioners herein are the Upa-Sarpanch and Ward Members of Peddanapalli Grampanchayat (6th respondent herein) in Yeleswaram Mandal, East Godavari District. They were elected as Ward Members of the said Gram Panchayat in the elections held in July, 2013. The 1st petitioner was elected as Upa-Sarpanch by the members of the Grampanchayat after the elections were held.

4. According to petitioners, since the old office building of the Grampanchayat (in an area of 70 sq. yds. in Sy. No. 169/2) was in a dilapidated condition, pursuant to a resolution No.