GURDIAL SINGH Vs. THE STATE AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) GURDIAL Singh complains under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution that originally there were three separate Gram Panchayats with their own Sabha areas for the villages Banmohri, Ballewala and Rajindrapuri. He claims to be a resident and one of the voters of the Sabha area of village Ballewala in district Sangrur. It is admitted that the Sabha area of village Ballewala has a population of 400 persons and about 130 voters and village Rajinderpari has a population of about 600 persons and about 306 votes. Now a common Panchayat area has been created for village Ballewala and village Rajinderpuri. The objection raised is that these two villages are not contiguous and the grievance is that it is not convenient for the voters of those two villages to go out of their village for the purpose of exercising their right. It is asserted in the petition that the distance between the two villages is six miles and if one has to go from village Ballewala to village Rajinderpuri, then he has to pass through village Banmohri from where by means of a long and circuitous route he has again to pass through village Pasaurh.

(2.) IN the return, it has been stated that the population of village Rajinderpuri is 596 and voters 301 whereas the population of village Ballewala is 267 and voters, 130. This is a figure according to the census of 1961. The distance between village Ballewala and Rajinderpuri has been stated to be four miles. It is further admitted that village Banmohri lies in between the two villages. According to the census of 1951, the population of each one of the two villages is less than 500 and both of them being nearest to each other, one Gram Sabha area had to be constituted.