IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND ELEVEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.33624 of 2010 Between: Peddagani Kalavathi ..... Petitioner AND The District Panchayat Officer, Warangal, Warangal District & another. .....Respondents Counsel for the petitioner: Sri A. Prabhakar Rao Counsel for the respondents: AGP for Pandhayat Raj The Court made the following: THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.33624 of 2010 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in not restoring the cheque withdrawal power to the petitioner on expiry of the time specified in order dated 15.07.2010, as illegal and arbitrary. The petitioner is a Sarpanch. By order dated 15.07.2010, respondent No.1 has withdrawn the cheque drawing power of the petitioner for a period of three months, in exercise of his powers under Rule 42 of the Rules relating to certain taxes and other lodging of moneys by the Gram Panchayat and payment of money from the Gram Panchayat fund. It is the pleaded case of the petitioner that after expiry of the said period, respondent No.1 has neither extended the said period nor restored the cheque drawing power. When the Writ Petition came up for admission on 31.12.2010, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj took time for instructions. Today, at the hearing, he stated that he was informed by the office of respondent No.1 that an appropriate order would be passed on 04.02.2011 and that he does not have further instructions thereon. Having regard to the facts noted above, it is incumbent upon respondent No.1 to respond to the grievance of the petitioner. Afterall, the petitioner is a democratically elected Sarpanch, who is vested with certain powers and functions under the provisions of the A.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. Cheque drawing power is one of such powers vested in the petitioner. Unless such power is curtailed in a lawful manner, interference with such power constitutes an act of illegality. If the period, for which the petitioner’s cheque drawing power was withdrawn, has expired, respondent No.1 is bound to restore the same immediately. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the direction to respondent No.1 to restore the cheque drawing power in favour of the petitioner, unless the period stipulated in order dated 15.07.2010 was further extended by the competent authority. As a sequel to disposal of the Writ Petition, WPMP.No.42613 of 2010 filed by the petitioner for interim relief is disposed of as infructuous. ____________________________ C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J Date: 17.02.2011 ES