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2012 Supreme(All) 2454

[2012(9) ADJ 286 (DB)]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : AMITAVA LALA, A.C.J. AND ASHOK SRIVASTAVA, J.
RAJEEV KIRAN ....Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS ....Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 35942 of 2012, decided on 18th September, 2012)

Advocates:
Counsel :
Somesh Khare for the Petitioner; C.K. Parekh, S.K. Dubey, Ramanand Pandey and S.C. for the Respondents.

Headnote:Constitution of India, 1950—Article 226—U.P. Kshetra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Adhiniyam, 1961—Sections 15(3) and 15(1)—General Clauses Act, 1899—Section 27—Writ petition—No confidence motion—Sent to petitioner, Pramukh of Kshetra Panchayat—On ground that period of notice mentioned in Section 15(3) was not expired and as such, date fixed for consideration of no confidence motion was against law—Although there is conflict of decisions on point as to whether this period of 15 days is mandatory requirement—But High Court in view of subsequent Division Bench, decided writ petition following this Division Bench and also Section 27, accepting that this period of 15 days in not mandatory and word “give” used in Section 15(3) means ‘service’—Although, High Court found that plea based on Section 15(3)—Is not taken with clean hands—But did not record its finding on this issue—High Court dismissed writ petition on basis of view of subsequent Division Bench, because, no authoritative view of Larger Bench was available till date of decision. [Paras 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11]

       

JUDGMENT

Hon’ble Amitava Lala, ACJ.—The brief facts giving rise to the present writ petition are to the effect that on 20th December, 2010 the petitioner was duly elected as Pramukh of Kshettra Panchayat Devkali, District Ghazipur. Oath of the office was administered to the petitioner on 18th March, 2011 and since then the petitioner has been regularly discharging duties of the office of Pramukh and has never been found guilty of any dereliction of duty and functions of the office as contemplated under the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Adhiniyam, 1961 (hereinafter in short called as the “Act”). However, on account of political rivalry, notice/proposal for bringing no confidence motion against the petitioner, which was allegedly signed by 61 members out of 96 members of the Kshettra Panchayat Devkali, has been served upon the respondent No. 2 i.e. the District Magistrate, Ghazipur. The District Magistrate, Ghazipur, on the basis of aforesaid proposal, issued the notice/order dated 13th July, 2012, whereby meeting has been fixed for 04th August, 2012 for considering the proposal of no confidence motion against the petitioner. According to the petitioner, such notice/order has been issued by the District Magistrate without following the prescription of Section 15 of the Act. Moreover, 59 members, out of total 96 members of concerned Kshettra Panchayat, swore affidavits on 03rd July, 2012 stating that they are fully satisfied with the functioning of the petitioner as Pramukh and further the person, who had lost the election, namely, Moti Chand Pasi, has tried to bring a fabricated and false proposal of no-confidence motion and there is every likelihood that names of the members have been forged in order to make out a proposal enabling him to bring a motion of no-confidence. The petitioner further contended that the order impugned dated 13th July, 2012 has been passed in a mechanical fashion without application of mind and, as such, the same cannot be sustained. Against this background, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition for the following reliefs:

“(i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned order/notice dated 13.7.2012 issued by the District Magistrate, Ghazipur (Annexure 2 to the writ petition).

(ii) Issue a writ, order or direction of suitable nature restraining the respondents from interfering in the peaceful functioning of the petitioner as Pramukh, Kshettra Panchayat, Devkali, District Ghazipur.

(iii) Issue any other writ, order or direction in favour of the petitioner, as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the present facts and circumstances of the case, so as to secure the ends of justice.

(iv) Award cost of the Writ Petition to the petitioner.”

2. The writ petition was filed on 23rd July, 2012 and a Division Bench of this Court by order dated 25th July, 2012 directed the petitioner to implead the concerned Kshettra Panchayat as well as Moti Chand as respondent Nos. 3 and 4. In further, since the resolution was passed against the petitioner on 04th August, 2012, the petitioner was allowed to bring such fact to the notice of the Court, therefore, an amendment application was allowed to file, which is in the record. Though formalities for incorporation of impleadment and amendment are not complete by amending the relevant portions of the writ petition by red ink, yet since we have heard Mr. Somesh Khare, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. Ramanand Pandey, learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents, and Mr. C.K. Parekh and Mr. S.K. Dubey, learned Counsel appearing for newly impleaded respondent No. 4-Sri Moti Chand, who is alleged to be member of the Kshettra Panchayat and has brought the no confidence motion, on all the points including holding of meeting on 04th August, 2012, we are of the view that the procedural formalities can be ignored and the present writ petition can be decided and the judgment can be de

















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