JAYANARAYAN KHANDAYAT RAY Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY means of this writ application, the petitioners who belong to Bajrakote area have raised their grievance against the decision of the State Government to merge the Bajrakote Grama Panchayat in the newly created Baunsagarh Grama Panchayat which is allegedly nothing but an output of the letter/suggestion made by the Minister for Steel (independent charge), Union of India and allegedly on extraneous considerations and contrary to the spirit of Section 3(3) of the Orissa Grama Panchayats Act, 1964 (for short 'the Act).

(2.) WE have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

(3.) SINCE we have noticed that the elections are to be held very shortly and for this purpose, the State Election Commission has started preparation of the electoral rolls, we fell that at this stage it will not be proper to consider the case on merit and it should be left upon the State Government to consider the case in the light of the direction already given by this Court as the representation of the petitioners is liable to be considered in view of the directions already issued by this Court as we feel that it would not be proper at this stage to consider the question of demerger of the erstwhile Bajrakote Grama Panchayat from Bounsagarh Grama Panchayat.