THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA WRIT PETITION NO: 12047 of 2009 ORAL ORDER: Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for Panchayat Raj, and at their request the main writ petition itself is taken up for disposal. This writ petition is filed questioning the action of the first and second respondents in demolishing the thatched house in grass fields in R.S.Nos.170/2, 172/3, 170/3 and 171/2 of Kalipatnam Village, Mogalthuru Mandal, West Godavari District, in pursuance of Proceedings No.2/2009 dated 03.06.2009 of the first respondent, as arbitrary and illegal. The case of the petitioner is that he is owning Ac.21.00 cents of land situated at Kalipatnam village, Mogalthuru Mandal, West Godavari District. It is stated that abutting to his lands, there is a canal and the Irrigation Department allowed the landowners to enjoy the bund by raising grass by collecting nominal fees from them. In the said process, the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division, Bhimavaram had renewed the grant in favour of the petitioner vide proceedings dated 01.03.2000 on payment of usual charges. Accordingly the petitioner paid the same, and entered into an agreement on 26.02.2000 and enjoying the tank bund admeasuring Ac.3.50 cents. He raised a thatched house in the said land to store the grass and paddy. While so, the first respondent-Gram Panchayat with the connivance of the second respondent- Assistant Engineer, Irrigation Section, Kalipatnam, intended to remove the said thatched house and issued notice dated 3.06.2009 directing the petitioner to remove the house and report the same within 24 hours, and produce the documents, if any, for making such construction. Accordingly, he submitted his explanation on 04.06.2009 stating that he has raised only a thatched house in the grass fields, which does not require any permission. He filed the present writ petition stating that the Gram Panchayat has neither any jurisdiction to proceed with the demolition nor any power to issue notice calling for explanation and submission of documents. Admittedly, the assignment granted in favour of the petitioner was not for making constructions but for raising grass only. The land assessed by the Irrigation Department, dated 01.03.2000 is a wasteland and the same was assigned only for raising gross. Under the circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to submit a detailed explanation to the show cause notice issued by the first respondent, within a week from today. On such explanation being received, the respondent-Gram Panchayat is directed to consider the same and pass appropriate orders. Till such time, the respondents are directed to maintain status quo with regard to the thatched house in question. ________________ (N.V.RAMANA, J.) 22nd June, 2009 Js.