Challenge in this petition is to order rendered by learned Additional Collector, Parbhani, in proceedings under section 7 of the Bombay Village Panchayat Act, 1958 (for short, "the BVP Act") read with Rule-3 (1) of the relevant Rules bearing No.209/A-2/ VP/CR-5. By the impugned order, the petitioner was disqualified as Sarpanch of village panchayat, Khandali and was, therefore, discontinued to occupy the post.

2. Indisputably, the petitioner was elected as Sarpanch of village panchayat, Khandali in the month of August, 2005. He continued to work as such till passing of the impugned order. The respondents No.3 to 8 filed application before the learned Collector, alleging that the petitioner was disqualified to continue as Sarpanch of the village panchayat because he had not held required number of Gram Sabha meetings and thereby had incurred disqualification under section 7(1) of the BVP Act. The petitioner was called upon to explain lapses alleged in the application filed by the said respondents. He denied the lapses and also submitted that there were defects in arranging the required number of Gram Sabhas at the initial stage because he became Sarpanch during midst of the