IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH FRIDAY, THE 18TH JULY 2008 / 27TH ASHADHA 1930 WP(C).No. 4103 of 2005(L) ------------------------- PETITIONERS: -------------------- 1. SMT.RAMANI KRISHNANKUTTY, PRESIDENT, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYAT, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 2. UNNI.P.C., XV WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 3. M.K.RASHEED, XII WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 4. K.P.ALI, XIV WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 5. P.M.ABDUL KAREEM, IV WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 6. C.P.HYDROSE, III WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 7. PREMA RAMAKRISHNAN, X WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 8. SEENATH UMMER, VI WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 9. SHERLY DEVASSY, II WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. W.P.(C). NO.4103/2005-L: 10. K.A.MOHAMMED, V WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 11. NOORJAHAN YOUSUF, XI WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 12. VIJAYAKUMAR, VII WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 13. M.M.VINAYAKAN, XIII WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. 14. T.A.BASHEER, IX WARD MEMBER, EDATHALA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, EDATHALA, ALUVA. BY ADV. SRI.S.RAMESH BABU, ADV. SRI.K.P.KAMALAKARA BABU. RESPONDENTS: ----------------------- 1. THE OMBUDSMAN FOR LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, BARTON MILL BUNGALOW, KUNNUKUZHI P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 037. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. NOBLE MATHEW FOR R1 & R2. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 18/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C). NO.4103/2005-L: APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS: EXT.P.1: COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE R.1. DTD. 04/11/2004. EXT.P.2: COPY OF THE G.O. (MS). NO. 31/98/LAD DTD. 13/02/1998. EXT.P.3: COPY OF THE JOINT REPLY DTD. 25/09/2004 TO THE R.1. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL. //TRUE COPY// prv. KURIAN JOSEPH, J. ---------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.4103 of 2005 ---------------------------------------------- Dated 18th July, 2008. J U D G M E N T The challenge is on Ext.P1 order passed by the first respondent. Petitioners are members of the Grama Panchayat. As per the said order, the petitioners have been made personally liable for the alleged loss caused to the Panchayat due to the appointment of a Government Engineer to prepare estimate for development works. One of the main grievance of the petitioners is that the order is passed without notice to them. The petitioners being the affected parties, they ought to have been given an opportunity for hearing. Therefore, without prejudice to the liberty to the first respondent to pass fresh orders, if required, with notice to the petitioners, the impugned order is quashed. The writ petition is disposed of as above. KURIAN JOSEPH, JUDGE. tgs KURIAN JOSEPH, J ---------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.4103 of 2005 ---------------------------------------------- J U D G M E N T Dated 18th July, 2008.