IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Devashis Baruah, J.
Rehena Khatun, W/o Lt. Husen Ali – Petitioner
Versus
The State of Assam Through The Principal Secy. To The Govt. Of Assam, Panchayat And Rural Development Deptt. And Ors. – Respondents
WP(C)/3359/2021
Decided On : 11-09-2023
Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 - Section 15, 14 - No-Confidence Motion - Quashing letter - Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat - Whether Executive Officer of Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat had authority to convene special meeting for no-confidence against Petitioner - whether Petitioner had notice of requisition so made by Respondent in writ petition for convening a No-Confidence Motion against Petitioner – Held, adjudication of this aspect of matter would require intricate examination of the evidence on record, inasmuch as, proceedings it cannot be ascertained as to whether Petitioner had refused communication with the knowledge that the said communication had enclosed requisition made by the Respondent - Interest of justice would be met if said requisition so made by Respondent is brought to a logical conclusion taking into account that the Petitioner now had due knowledge about the contents of said requisition as the same has been enclosed to Annexure-2 to writ petition - Writ petition disposed off.
JUDGMENT :
1. The instant writ petition has been filed by the Petitioner for a Writ of Certiorari to set aside and quash the impugned letter dated 14.06.2021 issued by the Respondent No.6, the Secretary of the 64 No. Tapeswara Gaon Panchayat referring the matter to the President, Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat for holding the special meeting to discuss No-Confidence Motion against the Petitioner; for setting aside and quashing the impugned letter dated 15.06.2021 issued by the Executive Officer, Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat for holding the special meeting to discuss No-Confidence Motion against the Petitioner; for setting aside and quashing the impugned resolution dated 21.06.2021 adopted in the special meeting expressing No-Confidence Motion against the Petitioner and to allow the Petitioner to work as the President of the said Gaon Panchayat.
2. The facts as could be discerned from a perusal of the writ petition is that the Petitioner was directly elected as the President of 64 No. Tapeswara Gaon Panchayat (for short referred to as the ‘Gaon Panchayat in question’) in the district of Barpeta, Assam. It was alleged in the writ petition that some members of the Gaon Panchayat in question in collusion with the Secretary of the Gaon Panchayat in question had hatched conspiracy to oust the Petitioner. On 21.06.2021, the Petitioner received a letter from the Executive Officer of Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat regarding a special meeting held on 21.06.2021 to discuss the No-Confidence Motion against the Petitioner and the Petitioner was requested to submit her explanation within 3 (three) days against the said resolution.
3. Thereupon the Petitioner made enquiries and could come to learn that the Secretary of the Gaon Panchayat in question had informed that 7 (seven) numbers of members of the Gaon Panchayat in question had submitted a letter dated 28.05.2021 for holding a special meeting to discuss No-Confidence Motion against the Petitioner alleging that they have no confidence due to some activities. The Petitioner could further come to learn that the Secretary had tried to serve the letter by office notice but could not serve the letter and as such after the expiry of 15 (fifteen) days from the date of receipt of the letter, the Secretary referred the matter to the Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat on 14.06.2021 for necessary action. It was also stated in the writ petition that the Executive Officer of the Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat was not authorized by the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 (for short “the Act of 1994”) to issue a Notice on 15.06.2021 for holding the special meeting to be held on 21.06.2021. It was further alleged that on the basis of the Notice issued by the Executive Officer of the Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat dated 15.06.2021, a special meeting was convened and held on 21.06.2021 in the office of the Ruposhi Anchalik Panchayat and a resolution was adopted on 21.06.2021 expressing no-confidence against the Petitioner.
4. Be that as it may, it may be relevant at this stage to take note of that the Petitioner herein had enclosed to the writ petition the requisition issued by seven members of the Gaon Panchayat dated 28.05.2021 as Annexure-2 to the writ petition. It further reveals from the records that the instant writ petition was filed on 13.07.2021 challenging the various notices as well as the impugned resolution adopted on 21.06.2021. The records further show that on 23.07.2021, this Court had issued Notice and in the interim directed that the impugned resolution dated 21.06.2021 shall not be given effect to. The said interim order has been in force since then till date.
5. The records further show that the private Respondent Nos.7 to 13 had filed an affidavit-in-opposition on 09.11.2021. In the said affidavit-in-opposition it was mentioned that the notice dated 02.06.2021 and 14.06.2021 issued by the Secretary of the Gaon Panchayat in question had been duly sent to the Petitioner through registered post with AD. It was further mentioned
The main legal point established in the judgment is the mandatory nature of the 15-day period for convening a no confidence meeting as per Section 15 of the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994.
Point of Law : Section 17 [3] of the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 has clearly stipulated that in case of any special meeting [which is a meeting for no confidence motion], 3 [three] days' clear notice h....
Section 15(1) of Panchayat Act categorically mandates that there should be service of notice of no confidence motion upon President by Secretary thereby giving him 15 clear days.
Point of Law : Process subsequent to requisition notices expressing want of confidence had failed finally either on technical grounds or due to procedural irregularities, this Court, thus, is of the ....
Point of Law : Duty of the Chairman/Vice-Chairman to face the no-confidence motion, as they were elected office-bearers and if they had lost the confidence of the majority to continue as such office-....
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