IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA WRIT PETITION NO.17579 of 2000 Between: 1 P. Raja Rao S/o Late Kanakambaram, R/o Cheepurugudem Village, Chatrain Mandal, Krishna District. 2 G. Venkateshwara Rao, S/o Pentaiah, R/o Cheepurugudem Village, Chatrain Mandal, Krishna District. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Govt. of A.P., Rep. by its Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad. 2 A.P. State Election Commission, Rep. by State Election Commission, Hyderabad. 3 The Collector, Krishna (Commissioner of Panchayat Raj), Machilipatnam, Krishna District. 4 The Revenue Divisional officer, Nuzvid, Nuzvid Mandal, Krishna District. ....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction, preferably a writ in the nature of MANDAMUS declaring the action of the respondents in reserving the post of the Sarpanch of Cheepurugudem Gram panchayat to the Scheduled Tribes, treating the Nayaks as belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, who are residing within the limits of Cheepurugudem Gram Panchayat, in Chatrai Mandal, Krishna District as illegal, arbitrary and without jurisdiction and to decide the issue of reservation of the said Gram Panchayat as per the A.P. Panchayat Raj (Reservation of Seats of Ward Members of Offices of Sarpanchas of Gram Panchayats) Rules, 1995. Counsel for the Petitioners: MR K.RANGA RAO, MR.N.SATCHIDANAND ( not present) Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ & RURAL DEV. The Court made the following: ORDER: This writ petition is filed seeking to declare the action of the respondents in reserving the post of the Sarpanch of Cheepurugudem Gram panchayat, Chatrai Mandal, Krishna District, to a Scheduled Tribe Candidate, treating the Nayaks as Scheduled Tribes, who are residing within the limits of said Gram Panchayat, for the Gram Panchayat elections proposed to be held in the month of October, 2000 as illegal and arbitrary and to direct the respondents to decide the issue of reservation of the said Gram Panchayat as per the A.P. Panchayat Raj (Reservation of Seats of Ward Members and Offices of Sarpanchas of Gram Panchayats) Rules, 1995. When the matter is taken up today for hearing, none appears for the petitioners. Learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development submits that by lapse of time the prayer in the writ petition has become infructuous. Recording the said submission, the writ petition is dismissed as having become infructuous. No costs. _______________ N.V. RAMANA, J. Date: 16.06.2005 Nsr ASSISTANT REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1 The Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Govt. of A.P., Hyderabad. 2 The State Election Commission, A.P. State Election Commission, Hyderabad. 3 The Collector, Krishna (Commissioner of Panchayat Raj), Machilipatnam, Krishna District. 4 The Revenue Divisional officer, Nuzvid, Nuzvid Mandal, Krishna District. 5 Two CCs to GP for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT) 6 2 CD copies