JUDGMENT :

1. Heard Mr. Nipun Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Gyanendra Prakash Srivastava, learned counsel for the complainant and learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.

2. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with a prayer to quash the impugned order dated 07.08.2023 passed by the respondent no.2; District Magistrate/Prescribed Authority, Mau, vide which the administrative and financial power of the petitioner as Gram Pradhan has been ceased and a further prayer to direct the respondent not to interfere in the peaceful functioning of the petitioner as Gram Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Madahapatti, Mau.

3. The facts, in brief, giving rise to the present writ petition are as under:-

(i) The petitioner was duly elected as Gram Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Madahapatti, Mau in the general panchayat election held in the year 2021. It appears that some complaint was made against him for not carrying out development and welfare work of the concerned village. Such complaint was made by a person, who had assaulted the petitioner for which the petitioner had lodged an FIR against him.

(ii) On the aforesaid complaint, a committee comprising of District Finance