IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.13354 of 2009 Date of decision: 7th July, 2010 Major Singh … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Rajiv Joshi, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms. Ambika Luthra, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab for the State. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) The petitioner was elected as a Panch of village Nussi, Tehsil and District Jalandhar. An allegation surfaced against the petitioner that he, in his capacity as a Panch, had sold 13 eucalyptus trees and had not deposited the amount in the Panchayati funds. On a complaint received, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer recommended disciplinary action against the petitioner. The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab on 6th July, 2009, under Section 20(4) of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, suspended the petitioner from the office of Panch. Aggrieved against the same, petitioner had filed an appeal. The appellate authority dismissed the appeal, however, ordered that the regular enquiry ordered against the petitioner be concluded within three months and that thereafter, the Director, Rural Development and Civil Writ Petition No.13354 of 2009 Panchayat, Punjab shall proceed with the matter in accordance with the provisions of law. Counsel for the petitioner prays that since a regular enquiry has been ordered, the petitioner may be permitted to participate in the proceedings and the authorities may be directed to conclude the proceedings within a specified time. Counsel further prays that in case an adverse order is passed, the petitioner may be allowed to assail the same by availing appropriate legal remedy. In view of the prayer made by counsel for the petitioner, respondent No.2 is directed to take a final decision and conclude the proceedings within two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. This Court has no doubt that the contention raised by counsel for the petitioner that those persons, against whom the similar allegations were leveled, have been absolved by the authorities and only due to the political reasons under the influence of the ruling party, the authorities have adopted the policy of pick and chose, shall be dealt with by the authorities in right perspective. With the observations made above, present writ petition is disposed of. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE July 7, 2010 rps 2