THE HON'BLE Ms. JUSTICE G.ROHINI Writ Petition No. 22044 of 2003 Dated: 19.11.2010 Between: Bhogireddy Guna Ramkrishna and 48 others, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District ..... PETITIONERS AND The District Collector (Panchayat Wing), Eluru and 4 others. .....RESPONDENTS THE HON’BLE Ms. JUSTICE G.ROHINI Writ Petition No. 22044 of 2003 ORDER: The petitioners, who claim to be the residents of Yanamaduru village, claim that domestic tap connections were given to them for supply of protected drinking water supply during the years 1994 to 1998 on various dates. It is stated that all of them paid the requisite charges for the tap connections given and they have also been paying the monthly charges regularly as fixed by the 3rd respondent-Gram Panchayat. While so, the 3rd respondent-Gram Panchayat passed a resolution dated 30.04.2003 directing the Panchayat Secretary to issue notices to collect donations from the petitioners at the rate of Rs.2,000/- apart from monthly payment of Rs.30/- with effect from 01.04.2002. The said resolution is stated to have been passed pursuant to the proceeding issued by the District Panahcyaat Officer dated 26.02.2003. Pursuant thereto the 3rd respondent issued notices dated 01.05.2003 calling upon the petitioners to pay the amounts as per the resolution, failing which the tap connections will be disconnected. The petitioners submitted detailed representations dated 04.07.2003 and 11.10.2003 requesting the 1st respondent-District Collector that the collection of the amounts as proposed by the 3rd respondent is unwarranted. Even before the petitioners’ representations are considered and any decision is taken by the 1st respondent, the respondents 3 and 4 attempted to disconnect the tap connections given to the petitioners. Aggrieved by the same, this writ petition is filed contending that the impugned action of the respondents without issuing any notice and without conducting any enquiry, particularly without waiting for the orders yet to be passed by the 1st respondent on the representations of the petitioners, is arbitrary and illegal. This Court, by order dated 21.10.2003 directed stay of disconnection of the tap connections and the same has been in operation all through. Despite notice, no counter affidavit is filed on behalf of the respondents. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioners as well as the learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents 3 and 4. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and keeping in view that the representations made by the petitioners dated 04.07.2003 and 11.10.2003 are pending consideration before the 1st respondent, I find force in the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners that the proposed disconnection of taps is unwarranted and unjustified. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 1st respondent to consider the representations of the petitioners and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of this order. Till such time, the respondents shall not interfere with the tap connections given to the petitioners in any manner whatsoever. No costs. _____________ G. ROHINI, J Date: 19.11.2010 KLP