Smt. Manju Devi @ Manju v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Panchayati Raj Lko. and 4 Others
Case brief
What is this about?
Interim order, Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench), Court No. 20, Judge Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi, dated December 2, 2025 — WRIT - C No. 10361 of 2025 — Smt. Manju Devi @ Manju v. State of U.P. (Panchayati Raj) — removal/preliminary enquiry against Pradhan — Rule 2(c), Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Removal of Pradhans, Up-Pradhans and Members) Enquiry Rules, 1997 — Section 95(1)(g), Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 — competence of enquiry officers — District Magistrate Barabanki impugned order dated 12.09.2025 constituting Three Members Committee (Chief Development Officer, Joint Director (Prosecution), Circle Officer (City), Barabanki) — counsel relied on Smt. Kafia v. State of U.P., 2018 (36) LDC 797 — short counter affidavit in two weeks — impugned order in abeyance till next listing on 07.01.2026 — merits undecided.
What did the court decide?
Interim relief only: (i) operation and implementation of the impugned order dated 12.09.2025 kept in abeyance till the next date of listing; (ii) two weeks granted to the Additional Chief Standing Counsel to file a short counter affidavit; case listed for 07.01.2026. Substantive question of officers' competence expressly left open.