Disposed

Pitchairaja .P v. The Secretary to Government

Madras HC14 Oct 2024WP(MD)/20017/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition seeking action against panchayat officials over misappropriation and loss of E-NMR records in MGNREGS works for 2020-2021. The court noted muster rolls were not produced for social audit, directed a thorough enquiry by the District Collector, Theni, and action against those responsible for loss of registers.

What did the court decide?

Direction to District Collector, Theni to conduct thorough enquiry into MGNREGS works and act against persons responsible for loss of registers.

Pitchairaja .P Vs The Secretary to Government — Municipal and Town Planning | Madras HC (2024)

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 14.10.2024

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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P.Pitchairaja ... Petitioner

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-vs-

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1.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Urban Development and Panchayatraj Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-9.

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2.The District Collector, Theni District, Theni.

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3.The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Theni. 4.The Assistant Director of Panchayat, Collectorate Building, Theni District, Theni. 5.The Block Development Officer, Andipatti Panchayat Union, Andipatti, Theni District. 6.The President, Palayakkottai Village Panchayat, Palayakottai, Andipatti Taluk, Theni District-625 512. ...Respondents

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Page 1 of 5

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 and 2 herein to take action against the respondents 5 and 6 herein for the misappropriation done in the NMR work (MGNREGS) for the period from 2020-2021 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 08.06.2024 and 29.06.2024.

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For Petitioner : Mr.P.Sivachandran For Respondents : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, Government Pleader

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ORDER

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[Order of the Court was made by R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.]

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The prayer in the writ petition reads as follows:

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“ To issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 and 2 herein to take action against the respondents 5 and 6 herein for the misappropriation done in the NMR work (MGNREGS) for the period from 2020-2021 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 08.06.2024 and 29.06.2024.”

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Mr.S.Saravanan, Block Development Officer, Andipatti Panchayat Union,

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is present in person. Though a lengthy counter affidavit has been filed setting out the system of Panchayat Raj and also constitutional ethos to be followed by Courts, the said counter affidavit itself exposes the fact that the records relating to works done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme have not been maintained properly. It is stated that the E- NMRs (Electrical Nominal Muster Role) relating to 4 channel works, 3 cattle shed works and 1 Goat shed were lost and were not produced for social audit. This https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Page 2 of 5

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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raises a very grave suspicion regarding the proper conduct of the work.

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Hence, we dispose of the writ petition with the direction to the District

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Collector, Theni, to conduct a thorough enquiry regarding the works mentioned above and also to find out as to whether there were any irregularities in the conduct of the work. The District Collector is also directed to take appropriate action against the persons who are responsible for the loss of the registers. There shall be no order as to costs.

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[R.S.M., J.] [L.V.G., J.] 14.10.2024

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NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes Sml To 1.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Urban Development and Panchayatraj Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-9.

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2.The District Collector, Theni District, Theni. 3.The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Theni. 4.The Assistant Director of Panchayat, Collectorate Building, Theni District, Theni. 5.The Block Development Officer, Andipatti Panchayat Union, Andipatti, Theni District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 6.The President,

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Page 3 of 5

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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Palayakkottai Village Panchayat, Palayakottai, Andipatti Taluk, Theni District-625 512.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Page 4 of 5

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024 R.SUBRAMANIAN, J. and L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

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Sml

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W.P.(MD)No.20017 of 2024

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14.10.2024

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Page 5 of 5

Pitchairaja .P v. The Secretary to Government

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Pitchairaja .P v. The Secretary to Government

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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