JUDGMENT

B. Mohanty, J. - This writ petition has been filed mainly with prayer to direct the opposite parties to publish the name of the petitioner as winning Sarpanch and names of other winning Ward Members of Kotagaon Grama Panchayat under Kalampur Panchayat Samiti in the district of Kalahandi as per Section 15 of the Odisha Grama Panchayats Act, 1964, for short 'the Act' and to further direct them to hand over the power to the petitioner as Sarpanch.

2. Ms. Majhi, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that initially during July, 2016 by way of a notification issued by Government of Odisha in Panchayati Raj Department Mandal Grama Panchayat falling under Dharamgarh Sub-Division of Kalahandi district was trifurcated into Mandal Grama Panchayat, Balagaon Gram Panchayat and Nuagaon Gram Panchayat. Balagaon Grama Panchayat covered villages like Balagaon, Khandidangariguda and Kotagaon. Later on during December, 2016, the above noted trifurcation was cancelled and existing Mandal Grama Panchayat was bifurcated to Balagaon Grama Panchayat and Mandal Grama Panchayat. Balagaon Grama Panchayat covered villages Balagaon, Khandidangariguda, Kotagaon, Bhalubutura and Bindhaniguda with h