E.MARAGATHAVADIVU Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Petition has been filed in the nature of a Certiorarified Mandamus seeking records relating to the impugned order dtd. 29/1/2024 in Na.Ka.No.2039/2023 /A3 passed by the first respondent, District Collector, Coimbatore and quash the same.

(2.) During the pendency of the Writ Petition, respondent Nos. 6 to 10 had been impleaded by order dtd. 5/3/2024 in W.M.P.No. 4630 of 2024.

(3.) In the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition, it had been stated that the petitioner E.Maragathavadivu is the President of Selakkarichal Village Panchayat at Sulur Taluk in Coimbatore District. It had been stated that in the said Panchayat, the total number of ward numbers are 9. It had been stated that 5 ward members are prejudiced against the petitioner. Those 5 members had been impleaded as respondent Nos. 6 to 10. Various complaints had been given against the petitioner herein and W.P.No. 20236 of 2023 had already been filed seeking a direction against the District Collector, to remove the petitioner from the post of President on the basis of the representation dtd. 14/6/2023. The said Writ Petition was disposed of on 10/7/2023 holding that the representation should be considered on merits and in accordance with law. Thereafter, a meeting was conducted in the panchayat and it was found that five members were against the petitioner while only four supported the petitioner. In these circumstances, the impugned order came to be passed under Sec. 204 of the Tamilnadu Panchayat Act 1994 wherein the administrative power and also the cheque signing powers of the petitioner were withdrawn. Subsequently, the administrative powers were restored but the cheque signing powers were not restored. Questioning the impugned order which was dtd. 29/1/2024, the present Writ Petition has been filed.