1 Heard Mr. Vohra, for the Petitioner, the learned AGP Mr. Patne, for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3 and Mr. Prathmesh Bhargude, for Respondent No.4.

2 RULE. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard by consent of the parties.

3 Since common questions of facts and law are involved in all these Writ Petitions, they are being taken up together for hearing and final disposal and are disposed off by this common Judgment.

4 In all these cases, proceeding under Section 14 (j3) of the Bombay Village Panchayats Act, 1958 were initiated against Petitioners on the ground that they have encroached on government land and are thus disqualified and cannot continue to be members of Gram Panchayat of Khanota, Taluka Daund, District Pune. Enquiry was conducted through the CEO ZP and the Block Development Officer. In all these matters, the District Collector, Pune has passed the order on 15th June, 2011 and the Petitioners have been held to be disqualified. Aggrieved by these orders, the Petitioners have filed Appeals under Section 16(2) of the said Act before the Additional Commissioner, Pune Division, Pune and by impugned Orders dated 19th December, 2011, all the Appeals have been dismissed.

5 Mr.