M. HEMANATHAN Vs. PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner joined as a Panchayat Assistant on 01.02.1998 in the third respondent Village Panchayat. Subsequently, the post of Panchayat Assistant was re -designated as Panchayat Secretary on 29.08.2011. During October 2011, Elections took place for Panchayat and the third respondent got elected as President for Ramachandrapuram Panchayat in Pallipattu Panchayat Union, Thiruvallur District.

(2.) WHILE so, the petitioner was issued with the impugned suspension order dated 23.09.2013 contemplating departmental action. It was alleged in the suspension order that the petitioner failed to produce Panchayat records and relevant documents to Assistant Director of Panchayats during Panchayat inspection on 06.09.2013 and by checking the bank statement of the Ramachandrapuram Panchayat Account 1, the Assistant Director of Panchayats had stated in the inspection report that the expenditure to the tune of Rs.2,70,080/ - have been made without proper vouchers and entries in cashbook. Challenging the aforesaid order of suspension, the petitioner has come up with the present writ petition.

(3.) A counter affidavit was filed by the first respondent refuting the allegations. In paragraph 5 of the counter, it is stated that the President of the Panchayat misappropriated the village fund in collusion with the Panchayat Secretary to the tune of Rs.2,70,080/ -.