IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.3810 of 2026 DATE OF ORDER: 09.02.2026 Between:

Payam Dhanalaxmi and others ...Petitioners AND The State of Telangana, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and others ...Respondents

ORDER :

This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed seeking the following relief:

“…pleased to issue a Writ or Direction or an Order more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS the action of the respondents No.6 in declaring the unofficial respondent No.9 as Sarpanch of Ashupaka Grampanchayat, Ashwaraopeta Mandal, Khammam District without proper verification, failure to reconcile and account for 31 votes which were admittedly polled but not counted, ignoring the objections raised during counting as illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and violation of principles of natural justice and Set-a-side the election result dated 14-12-2025 for the post of Sarpanch, Ashupaka Gram Panchayat, as the declaration was made without adherence to mandatory counting procedure consequently direct to Respondents 1 to 7 to conduct recounting of all voters polled for the post of Sarpanch, Ashupaka Gram Panchayat, after proper verification of ballot papers, statutory forms, and counting records, in the presence of contesting candidates or their authorized agents by considering the representation Dt.

19-12-2025...”

2. Heard Sri Abdul Azam Khan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Sri Ashok Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, for respondent Nos.1 and 4, Sri H.Rakesh Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue, for respondent Nos.2 and 3, Sri Pradeep Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.5 to 7 and Sri P.Sudheer Rao, learned Standing Counsel for respondent No.8 and perused the record.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the present Writ Petition is filed challenging the action of respondent No.6 in declaring the unofficial respondent No.9 as the elected Sarpanch of Ashupaka Gram Panchayat, Aswaraopeta Mandal, Khammam District, without proper verification of votes. The declaration was made without reconciling or accounting for 31 votes that were admittedly polled but not counted. The objections raised by the petitioners during the counting process were ignored. The petitioners therefore seek to set aside the election result dated 14-12-2025 for the post of Sarpanch of Ashupaka Gram Panchayat, as the declaration was made without adherence to the mandatory counting procedure. Consequently, the petitioners pray for a direction to respondent Nos.1 to 7 to conduct recounting of votes polled for the said post after proper verification of ballot papers, statutory forms, and counting records, in the presence of the contesting candidates or their authorized agents, by duly considering the representation dated 19-12-2025.

4. It is respectfully submitted that the Government of Telangana issued a notification for General Elections – 2025.

Pursuant to the said notification, petitioner No.1 and unofficial respondent No.9 filed nominations for the post of Sarpanch. Petitioner Nos.2 to 9 filed nominations for the posts of Ward Members. All nomination forms were duly accepted. The petitioners were allotted the “Ring” symbol, respondent No.9 was allotted the “Bat” symbol, and another candidate was allotted the “Scissor” symbol. The Gram Panchayat General Elections, 2025 were held on 14-12-2025 for Ashupaka Gram Panchayat, Aswaraopeta Mandal, Khammam District, for the posts of Sarpanch and Ward Members. The petitioners contested under the Ring symbol, respondent No.9 contested under the Bat symbol, and another candidate contested under the Scissor symbol.

5. As per the polling records, a total of 1,618 voters exercised their franchise. However, after counting, the