Sita Ram vs State of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Revenue Civil Sectt. Lko and 5 Others — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Sita Ram vs State of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Revenue Civil Sectt. Lko and 5 Others — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Neither the mandamus (completion of Multipurpose Hall) nor the certiorari (quashing the 09.04.2025 stop-work order) is recorded as granted; the writ petition was disposed of with a direction to the District Magistrate, Sultanpur, to look into the matter and take an appropriate decision expeditiously.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, whose only stated connection is paid drum-beating publicity for the proposed Multipurpose Hall, has the locus standi to institute the present public interest litigation. +2 more

Court's answer

The petitioner is unable to substantiate how the drum-beating work was assigned to him or by which authority; having undertaken that work, he has now instituted the present petition in public interest.

Ratio / Principle

It is not for the Court to decide which land would suit for carrying out development projects of Gram Panchayats or programmes launched by the State Government.

Key takeaways

Projects sanctioned by the State Government must proceed as per the guidelines issued by the State under the respective schemes.ratio¶10
The District Magistrate, Sultanpur, is directed to look into the matter and take an appropriate decision so that unwanted litigation before this Court does not arise at the instance of persons of this credence.ratio¶11
The Court expects the District Magistrate, Sultanpur, to take the necessary decision expeditiously so that ongoing projects are not hindered by persons having no locus to obstruct the implementation of welfare schemes.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Public Interest Litigation (No. 438 of 2025) before the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench: petitioner, who had earlier been paid Rs. 50/- for drum-beating publicity of a proposed Multipurpose Hall under the Alankar Yojna, sought (i) mandamus to respondent nos. 2 to 5 to complete the Multipurpose Hall construction at the location publicised by the Gram Sabha, and (ii) certiorari to quash the order dated 09.04.2025 stopping Anganwadi Centre construction on the basis of alleged complaints. The Court found the petitioner unable to substantiate how the work was assigned to him or by which authority; held that selection of land for development projects carried out by Gram Panchayats or under State Government programmes is not a matter for the Court, such projects proceeding strictly per the guidelines of the respective State schemes; directed the District Magistrate, Sultanpur, to look into the matter and take an appropriate decision so that unwanted litigation does not arise at the instance of persons of this credence; and expected the decision expeditiously so ongoing projects are not hindered by persons having no locus to obstruct welfare schemes. Writ petition disposed of (decision dated 27.5.2025).

Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:31576-DB

Court No. - 1

Case :- PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 438 of 2025

Petitioner :- Sita Ram Respondent :- State Of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Revenue Civil Sectt. Lko And 5 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Ved Prakash Yadav Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.,I.M. Pandey Ist

Hon'ble Attau Rahman Masoodi,J. Hon'ble Ajai Kumar Srivastava-I,J.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Ms. Isha Mittal, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State, and Sri I.M. Pandey, learned counsel for respondent no. 6.

By means of this writ petition, filed in public interest, the petitioner has prayed for a writ of mandamus directing respondent nos.2 to 5 to complete the construction work of Multipurpose Hall. The petitioner has further prayed for a writ of certiorari to quash the order dated 09.04.2025, whereby the construction work of the Anganwadi Centre was stopped on the basis of certain complaints alleged to have been made.

Coming to the locus of the present petitioner, it is gathered that he is stated to have undertaken the work of beating the drum on 09.08.2022 regarding the construction of a Multipurpose Hall under the Alankar Yojna, for which he was paid a sum of Rs. 50/-. The petitioner is unable to substantiate how such a work was assigned to him or by which authority. The petitioner, who had undertaken the above work, has now turned around and instituted the present petition in public interest, seeking a writ of mandamus on the ground that the Gram Sabha had publicised to undertake the construction of a Multipurpose Hall on some public utility land, and therefore, the said work should be carried out at that location.

Regarding any development projects carried out by the respective Gram Panchayats or under various programmes launched by the State Government, it is not for this Court to decide as to which land would suit for

carrying out the projects sanctioned by the State Government. Such projects must proceed as per the guidelines issued by the State under the respective schemes.

The District Magistrate, Sultanpur, is accordingly directed to look into the matter and take an appropriate decision so that unwanted litigation before this Court does not arise at the instance of persons of this credence.

We expect the District Magistrate, Sultanpur, to take necessary decision expeditiously so that the ongoing projects are not hindered by persons having no locus to obstruct the implementation of welfare schemes.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of .

(Ajai Kumar Srivastava-I, J) (Attau Rahman Masoodi, J)

Order Date :- 27.5.2025 A.Dewal

Digitally signed by :- ASHISH DEWAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench