THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.11705 of 2011 ORDER : The petitioners, who are former ward members of Kirikera Gram Panchayat, Hindupur Mandal, have filed this writ petition aggrieved by the action of the former Sarpanch, the 5th respondent herein, in proposing to construct Gram Panchayat office at Kirikera Village. It is the case of the petitioners that the Panchayat Office has been in existence from the inception at K.Basavannapalli Village. Therefore, according to the petitioners and as per the orders of the State Government issued in G.O.Ms.No.220, dated 11-06-2010 the building has to be located at K.Basavannapalli. The petitioners state that there was a resolution of the Gram Panchayat on 20-02-2009 for locating the building at Kirikera village on the land in Sy.No.210/1C. The petitioners contend that in view of the fact that a new building is to be constructed under the aforesaid scheme, the resolution passed on 20-02-2009 has no relevance and under the Scheme, the Gram Panchayat should adopt a fresh resolution. The petitioners state that there is no such resolution and hence locating the office at Kirikera village is impermissible. The District Panchayat Officer, Anantapur, the 2nd respondent herein, filed counter-affidavit. The counter-affidavit does not deny there is no resolution subsequent to the G.O.Ms.No.220, dated 11-06-2010. It is stated that efforts were made to convene the meeting on 23-03-2011 and 28-03-2011 for the purpose of constituting Work Execution Committee. The petitioners did not allow the Sarpanch to proceed with the agenda by demanding that the construction of the building should be made at K.Basavannapalli. Therefore, the meeting was concluded without adopting any resolution. Again on the intimation of the District Panchayat Officer, a meeting was proposed to be convened on 11-04-2011. Due to serious difference with the petitioners, the Sarpanch took an extreme step of attempting to commit suicide alleging that some ward members were kidnapped. The Mandal Parishad Development Officer and other officials were constrained to intervene in the matter. The Meeting was postponed on agreeing in principle to elicit public opinion on 13-04-2011. Even on 13-04-2011 the meeting was not conducted, therefore the issue has remained unresolved as there is no fresh resolution of the Gram Panchayat to locate the office at Kirikera. The 4th respondent-Gram Panchayat has filed counter through the former Sarpanch inter alia stating that the building has to be constructed only at Kirikera village as the said village is the headquarters of all the hamlets surrounding it. Panchayat has proposed construction at Kirikera, because the land was donated by a member of the public. Though efforts were made to convene the meeting on 11-04-2011, the same could not take place due to the conduct of the petitioners. I have considered the contentions on behalf of the respective parties. It is true that there was a resolution adopted by the Gram Panchayat on 20-02-2009. The scheme for construction of the buildings was issued on 11-06-2010 under the G.O.Ms.No.220, therefore even though a resolution was passed in 2009, the petitioners contend that in view of the subsequent developments there is every necessity for a fresh resolution. Be that as it may, the fact remains that there are two groups in the village, one supporting the former Sarpanch and the other supporting the petitioners. The events stated by the 2nd respondent show that there are serious differences among the members of the public. Evidently neither the Gram Panchayat (presently under the Special Officers) nor the 2nd respondent by himself is in a position to resolve the issue. In the circumstances, as the only alternative which appeared reasonable is to convene the Gram Sabha to resolve the issue, this Court directed the learned Government Pleader to obtain instructions. The learned Government Pleader on instructions submits that the 2nd respondent will take steps to resolve the crisis by convening Gram Sabha. The learned counsel for the parties have no objection for such course of action. In view of the prevailing circumstances in the Gram Panchayat, which is divided into groups, after giving serious consideration, I am of the view that the crisis can be resolved only by convening Gram Sabha. In the circumstances as above, the 2nd respondent-District Panchayat Officer is directed to convene the Gram Sabha after due publicity in the Gram Panchayat and resolve the issue. The petitioners and the former Sarpanch B.Satyanarayana shall cooperate with the District Panchayat Officer for conducting the meeting by ensuring peaceful atmosphere. Location of the building shall depend on the outcome of the Gram Sabha. It is directed that the 2nd respondent shall conclude the exercise as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. No costs. Consequent upon the disposal of the Writ Petition, W.P.M.P. No.14305 of 2011 and W.V.M.P. Nos.2120 & 2897 of 2011 are dismissed as unnecessary. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 24th November, 2011. skmr THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.11705 of 2011 Date : 24-11-2011 Between : A.V.Rami Reddy & 7 Others .. Petitioners and The District Collector, Panchayat Wing, Anantapur, Anantapur District & 4 Others .. Respondents