2019 Supreme(Telangana) 162
IN THE HIGH COURT OF FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA
CHALLA KODANDA RAM, J.
Vanga Raghava Reddy – Petitioner
Versus
The State of Telangana and Others – Respondents
Writ Petition No. 8346 of 2019
Decided On : 18-04-2019
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: P. Janardhana Reddy.
For the Respondent: G. Narender Reddy.
Headnote:
Constitution of India, Art. 226 - Action of fourth respondent in issuing final notice/resolution for demolition of compound wall - Power of Gram Panchayat to grant permission and take steps for removal of encroachments - Challenged - Held, Decision taken in the Resolution of the Gram Panchayat per se that the compound wall illegally constructed is required to be removed cannot be found fault - Gram Panchayat to enforce Resolution through Panchayat Secretary - Writ Petition allowed -Telangana Panchayat Raj (Duties and Responsibilities of Panchayat Secretary) Rules, 2018, - Telangana State Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. Para 10,11
CHALLA KODANDA RAM, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj for the 1st and 2nd respondents and Sri G. Narender Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for the 3rd and 4th respondents.
2. This writ petition is filed seeking to declare the action of the 4th respondent in issuing the final notice/resolution vide R.C. GP/NP/2019 dated 16.04.2019 for demolition of the compound wall of the petitioner, as illegal and arbitrary.
3. The true translation of the impugned notice dated 16.04.2019 reads as under:
“I submit that with you Sri Vanga Ragavareddy S/o Vanga Jagareddy Garu, inform you that why you grama kantam C.C. road parallel wall construction has done by you so by law it is illegal said that GP meeting also in front of all the people said all the people gave acceptance to demolish the wall, so notice, within one week, for demolition with grama panchayat members CC road with the wall is blocking on road informed to remove notice was issued to you.”
The said notice was signed by the Sarpanch, Grama Panchayat, Nanji Nagar, Shamshabad, Ranga Reddy District.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that in terms of the provisions of the Telangana State Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 (for short ‘the Act’) read with Telangana Panchayat Raj (Duties and Responsibilities of Panchayat Secretary) Rules, 2018, notified in G.O.Ms. No. 108 dated 26.09.2018, the Sarpanch is not competent to issue notice to the petitioner directing him to remove the alleged compound wall constructed by him and such power is entrusted with the Panchayat Secretary appointed under Section 42 of the Act. Learned counsel has drawn the attention of this Court to the rules made in G.O.Ms. No. 108 dated 26.09.2018, as per which, the Panchayat Secretary alone has been entrusted with various functions and also to take necessary steps with respect to the alleged violations. He would further submit that the Sarpanch being a political person is not entrusted with the executive powers with respect to the affairs of the Gram Panchayat. He would further submit that the powers entrusted with the Sarpanch are limited under Section 32 of the Act and no power is entrusted with the Sarpanch to initiate action as was done in the present case.
5. On the other hand, learned Standing Counsel, by making a reference to Sections 90 and 92 read with Section 114 of the Act, would submit that the Gram Panchayat has been entrusted with the power to grant permission and also to take steps for removal of the encroachments and unauthorized constructions, thereby, it cannot be said that the Sarpanch is not entitled to issue the impugned notice. He would further submit that the Sarpanch has issued impugned notice for implementation of the unanimous resolution of the members of the Gram Panchayat.
6. Having regard to the respective submissions, the question that arises for consideration is, whether the Sarpanch is entitled to issue the impugned notice or direction on behalf of the Gram Panchayat to remove the encroachments, by exercising power under Sections 90 and 92 of the Act and if so, who is the executive authority for implementation of the resolution.
7. To answer the said query, it is necessary to look into the provisions of the Act. Section 4 of the Act describes the constitution of Gram Panchayats for villages and their incorporation. Section 4(3) of the Act states that every Gram Panchayat shall be a body corporate by the name of the village; and Section 4(2) of the Act specifically states that the administration of the village shall vest in the gram panchayat, but the gram panchayat shall not be entitled to exercise functions expressly assigned by or under this Act or any other law to its Sarpanch or executive authority, or to any other local authority, or other authority. In other words, with respect to the functions that are assigned to a Sarpanch or any other local authority or other authority under the act or any other law, the Gram Pan