JUDGMENT :

Rule. Heard finally considering the short issue involved.

2. The petitioner who has been disqualified from continuing as a member of Gram Panchayat, Shirpur under the provisions of Section 14(1)(h1) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959 (for short, 'the said Act') by the Additional Collector which order has been confirmed by the Additional Commissioner in appeal has challenged the same in the present writ petition.

3. The respondent no.3 herein initiated proceedings seeking disqualification of the petitioner on the ground that in the earlier term when the petitioner was a member of the Gram Panchayat, he had misappropriated an amount of Rs.35,630/Though he had been called upon by the Block Development Officer to pay the aforesaid amount, the said fact was suppressed by the petitioner while submitting his nomination form. After the petitioner was elected as a member, proceedings for his disqualification came to be filed by the respondent no.3 on 20.08.2015. According to the respondent no.3 since the amount in question had not been so deposited within the stipulated time, the provisions of Sections 140 and 178 of the said Act were attracted. In the reply filed on be