1. The captioned writ petitions are materially connected in respect of recovery action taken by the Koovappady Grama Panchayat and its Secretary, respondents 2 and 1 respectively, to recover an amount of Rs. 5,36,379/- equally from the petitioners, who are members of the beneficiary committee, and the President, Secretary, Assistant Executive Engineer, Overseer etc., on the basis of the audit report submitted by the Auditor in respect of a scheme carried out by the Panchayat through the beneficiary committee.

2. Separate narration of facts is not required since the facts and circumstances of the writ petitions are typical. Therefore, I propose to dispose of the writ petitions by this common judgment. The pleadings and documents as referred to in W. P.