1. Heard Dr. L.P. Mishra along with Sri Prafulla Tiwari, learned counsels appearing for the petitioner, Sri H.P. Srivastava, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel representing State - respondents, Sri Jaideep Narain Mathur, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Sri Sameer Kalia and Sri Ajay Singh, learned counsel appearing for the Nagar Palika Parishad and Sri S.C. Kashish along with Sri Devendra Pratap Verma, learned counsels appearing for the Caveator - Ashutosh Kumar @ Monu.

2. Petitioner is the Chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Sitapur. By means of the impugned Office Order dated 7th January, 2019 passed by the District Magistrate, Sitapur, the financial and administrative powers of the petitioner as Chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad have been withdrawn under proviso to S.48(2) of the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916 (hereinafter referred to as '1916 Act').

3. The first and foremost submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the District Magistrate, Sitapur has no power under the law to pass such an order withdrawing / seizing the financial and administrative powers of the Chairman of a Nagar Palika Parishad under the aforesaid provisions.

4. Refer