2026:CGHC:1108-DB D si i g g n it e a d l l b y y NAFR BABLU BABLU RAJENDRA RAJENDRA BHANARKAR BHANARKAR Date:

2026.01.08

17:53:27 +0530 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRMP No. 30 of 2026 Manharan Lal Mandavi S/o Late Shri Devsingh Mandavi Aged About 53 Years Occupation- Service Posted As Chief Executive Officer Janpad Panchayat Deobhog, Distt.- Gariyaband, Permanent R/o Village- Duwal Gudda, Thana- Chowki, Distt. Rajnandgaon (C.G.)

... Petitioner(s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The District Magistrate Balodabazar, Distt.- Balodabazar- Bhatapara (C.G.)

2 - Station House Officer Police Station- Palari, Distt.- Balodabazar-

Bhatapara (C.G.)

3 - Ramkhilawan Sharma S/o Shri Ramsay Sharma Aged About 45 Years Chief Executive Officer Janpad Panchayat Palari, Distt.-

Balodabazar- Bhatapara (C.G.)

... Respondent(s)

For Petitioner(s) : Mr.Sunil Sahu, Advocate For Respondents : Mr.S.S.Baghel, Government Advocate No.1 and 2/State Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Arvind Kumar Verma , Judge

Order on Board

8.1.2026

1. Heard Mr.Sunil Sahu, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Mr.S.S.Baghel, learned Government Advocate appearing for respondents No.1 and 2/State.

2. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking following relief:

“It, is therefore, prayed that the petition may kindly be allowed and the chargesheet of Crime No. 135/2008 Palari, Distt. Balodabazar Bhatapara Registered at P.S. (C.G.) for the offences Punishable under section 467, 468, 471, 420 of IPC and proceedings/ order of taking cognizance dated 02.07.2025 of Criminal Case No. 2827/2025 pending before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class Balodabazar, Distt. Balodabazar- Bhatapara may kindly be quashed, in the interest of justice.”

3. Brief facts are that FIR in Crime No. 135/2008 was registered on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the Collector under the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 against the petitioner, who was then serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Janpad Panchayat, Palari. The inquiry pertained to the appointment of Shiksha Karmi Grade-III made by the Janpad Panchayat on 24.05.2008, in respect of alleged irregularities said to have occurred during the period from 14.08.2007 to 12.10.2007. The charge-sheet was filed on 02.07.2025, after a lapse of about 17 years from the registration of the FIR, and only against the present petitioner, despite the fact that there existed a duly constituted Selection Committee of the Janpad Panchayat which examined the applications and documents. After verification, a merit list was prepared and appointment orders were issued, bearing the signature of the petitioner in his official capacity.

4. Case of the prosecution is that on a complaint alleging forged appointments of Shiksha Karmi Grade-III at Janpad Panchayat, Palari, an Inquiry Committee was constituted. The Committee submitted a report stating that appointments were made by granting bonus marks to certain candidates who had not attached the requisite experience certificates and sports certificates. Applications and documents of 98 candidates were examined, and after verification of records and recording of their statements, it was revealed that such candidates had not attached the requisite certificates despite having been granted bonus marks. Consequently, the matter was referred to the Collector, Balodabazar, under Section 85 of the Act of 1993. The learned Collector, vide order dated 11.04.2008, terminated the services of 98 Shiksha Karmi and simultaneously directed registration of an FIR against the members of the Selection Committee, the employees involved in document verification, and the principals who allegedly issued forged experience certificates. In compliance with the said order, respondent No. 3 lodged the FIR on

24.05.2008.

5. During the course of investigation, the police of Police Station Palari seized all relevant records from the office of Janpad Panch