RAM MEHAR Vs. STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition challenges the order dated 20.12.2000 Annexure P -2 setting aside the order passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat -respondent No.2 whereby respondent No.3 was expelled from the post of sarpanch under Section 51(3)(c) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994 (for short the Act). It was held that the Sarpanch was not eligible in view of proviso to Section 175(1)(q) of the Act which disqualifies a person from being Sarpanch if third child is born to him after 22.4.1995 (within one year of the coming into force of the Act). The said order was set aside by respondent No. 1 with the observations that there was a reply by the Sarpanch that he had given the child born on 14.10.1999 in adoption and the said plea of the Sarpanch had not been dealt with.

(2.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner has assailed the order Annexure P -2 dated 20.12.2000 on the ground that the plea of adoption was not relevant once it was not disputed that the Sarpanch already having two children had another child after 22.4.1995. There was no dispute in the present case that a child was bom to the Sarpanch -respondent No. 3 who admittedly had 3 children prior to the birth of the fourth child bom on 14.10.1999. He submits that though the Financial Commissioner ought to have remanded the matter if he felt that a point which was required to be decided had not been decided, but having regard to the admitted facts in this case, the order of the Financial Commissioner is erroneous. Even if the factual aspect pleaded by the Sarpanch in reply to the show -cause notice that the fourth child had been given in adoption was proved, the disqualification still remained. He submitted that the object of providing disqualification was to put a check on the growth of population and to provide a norm for person elected or who was to be elected as Sarpanch in the form of a disqualification. He has referred to two Division Bench judgments of this Court in Mani Ram v. State of Haryana and Ors., 1998(1) RCR (Civil) 545 (FCH) :, 2000 CWP 12425 and Fazru and Ors. v. State of Haryana and Ors.?, 1998(1) RCR 111 (Civil) :, 1997 CWP 11439 . Learned counsel for respondent No. 3 has pointed out that the matter was pending in the Supreme Court and there was a stay of operation of the order of the High Court and the said judgments have thus not attained finality. Even if it is so, the provision has not been struck down and remains on the statute book and I have to proceed on the assumption that the provision is valid. Learned counsel of respondent No. 3 raised the following further submission.

(3.) HAVING heard the learned counsel for the parties, I find force in the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner and 1 hold that respondent No. 3 was disqualified from contesting or continuing as Sarpanch in view of clear provisions of Section 175(1)(q). The disqualification could not be removed merely because respondent No. 3 gave the child in adoption and even if his act was bonafide. The consequences of adoption provided under Section 12 if the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act have no relevance to the issue involved herein. The fact that the wife is not qualified which is not disputed, makes no difference to the disqualification of the husband, I find no force in the contention that respondent No. 3 would be protected under proviso to Section 171(1)(q). In my view, this proviso is not attracted at all.