(1.) BY this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India the petitioners challenge the validity of the Notification issued by the State Government on 25 -5 -1959 (Ex. P -9) say which the Municipal Committee, Dhamtari, has been dissolved under section 57 of the Central Provinces and Berar Municipalities Act, 1922 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). They pray for a Writ of CERTIORARI to quash the notification and for a writ of MANDAMUS against the respondents prohibiting them from interfering with the exercise of their functions under the Act.
(2.) PETITIONER No. 1 Radheshyam Khare was elected as President of the Municipal Committee, Dhamtari, on 10 -7 -1955. His term of office expires on 26 -7 -1960. Petitioner No. 2 is the Municipal Committee, Dhamtari, itself. Petitioner No. 3 Mohammad Bhai is a member and a Vice -President of the Municipality. The remaining petitioners are elected members of the Municipality. Respondent No. 1 is the State Government, respondent No. 2 is the Under Secretary in the Local Self Government Department and respondent No. 3 is the Executive Officer appointed by the State Government.
(3.) BY a notification issued on 18 -11 -1957 the State Government had appointed an Executive Officer under section 53 -A of the Act. That order was challenged by the petitioners Nos. 1 and 2 and the matter was taken up to the Supreme Court. The order was held valid by the High Court and the decision was confirmed by the Supreme Court. [See Radheshyam v. State of M.P. 1959 MPLJ 185 : AIR 1959 SC 107]. The term of the Executive Officer was for 18 months from 1 -12 -1957.