JUDGMENT :

SHAJI P. CHALY, J.

1. Petitioners, who are the President and the members of the Kilimanoor Grama Panchayat, have filed this writ petition, challenging Ext. P18 order dated 06.03.2010 passed by the Ombudsman for the Local Self Government Institutions in Complaint No. 950 of 2010, whereby the Ombudsman directed the Kilimanoor Grama Panchayat to recover the loss suffered on account of the contract awarded to M/s. Sivaram Electricals during the year 2008 from the petitioners.

2. Brief material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:

Petitioners were respondents 4 to 17 in complaint No. 950 of 2010 filed by the third respondent Ravi Varma K. Manager, Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Limited, Thiruvananthapuram, which was originally filed against the Secretary of the Kilimanoor Grama Panchayat second respondent, the President of the Panchayat and the Chairman of the Standing Committee for the welfare of the Panchayat. Subsequently, the petitioners were implemented in their personal capacity. The 4th respondent, namely one S. Krishnan Kutty Nair, Kilima