IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE T. MADHAVI DEVI WRIT PETITION NO.39593 OF 2025 DATED : 24.12.2025 Between:

Ch. Sarvaiah and 3 others ... Petitioners AND The State of Telangana rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and 8 others ... Respondents

O R D E R

In this Writ Petition, the petitioners are challenging the procedure adopted by the official respondents in declaring respondent No.9 as Upa Sarpanch of Somavarigudem Gram Panchayat, Nidamanur Mandal, Nalgonda District, as illegal and arbitrary.

2. According to the petitioners, the meeting of the Ward members for the election of Upa Sarpanch was not conducted in accordance with the Rules, i.e., the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Election of Upa-Sarpanch of a Gram Panchayat) Rules, 2018 and G.O.Ms.No.25, PR & RD (PTS- III), dt.19.05.2018. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the election of Upa Sarpanch is not by way of ballot paper and therefore, the said election is not covered by the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 2018. He has drawn the attention of this Court to the relevant Rules, i.e.