LPA No. 201 of 2011 (O&M) 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH LPA No. 201 of 2011 (O&M) Date of decision:- 03.02.2011 Manjeet Kaur, Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat, Phoose Mandi, Block Bhatinda, District Bhatinda. ......Appellant Vs State of Punjab through Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, Chandigarh and others. ......Respondents CORAM:-HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH Present: Mr. Raj Kumar Garg, Advocate, for the appellant. * * * * RANJAN GOGOI, A.C.J. (ORAL) The appellant who is an elected Sarpanch has been removed from office by a vote of no confidence passed in a meeting of the Gram Panchayat held on 14.10.2010. Unsuccessful in her challenge made before the learned Single Judge this appeal has been filed. The grievance raised, shortly put, is that on 14.10.2010 the members of the Gram Panchayat reported for attending the meeting at the time fixed but no meeting was held. However, some proceeding was conducted by the Social Education and Panchayat Officer (SEPO) in which the no confidence motion was passed. It is, therefore, contended that the motion of no confidence was passed in a meeting held contrary to LPA No. 201 of 2011 (O&M) 2 the provisions of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act' only) and, therefore, the same be declared null and void. Upon reading the order of the learned Single Judge, we find that the respondents have placed before the Court a letter bearing No. 4087 dated 12.10.2010 which indicated that the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) had authorized the Social Education and Panchayat Officer (SEPO) to preside over the meeting of the Gram Panchayat scheduled on 14.10.2010. Under Section 19(3) of the Act such a meeting can be presided over either by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer or any officer not below the rank of Social Education and Panchayat Officer, if authorized by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer. The letter dated 12.10.2010, which was taken on record by the learned Single Judge as annexure RA, would show that such an authorization was made in favour of the Social Education and Panchayat Officer. If that be so, we fail to see how the meeting dated 14.10.2010 can be said to be unauthorized or contrary to the provisions of the Act. We, therefore, do not find any merit in this LPA. It is accordingly dismissed, however, without any order as to cost. (RANJAN GOGOI) ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE (AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH) JUDGE 03.02.2011 Amodh