RANJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) WE have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner at a very great length and perused the paper-book.

(2.) BY order dated 13.7.2004, the Deputy Director (Land Development), Panchayat Punjab, exercising the powers of Director under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, removed the petitioner from the Office of Sarpanch, on the basis that the petitioner had incurred disqualifications mentioned in Section 208 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The following charge was levelled against the petitioner :-

(3.) MR . Singla has vehemently argued that the pendency of the earlier litigation has no relevance to the functioning of the petitioner as a Sarpanch. The whole action has been taken at the instance of the opposite party in the village. The petitioner was only elected as Sarpanch in the year 2003, and therefore, there was no occasion to move an application for vacation of stay in CWP No. 14308 of 1993. According to the learned counsel, the entire proceedings have been conducted in breach of rules of natural justice.