IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION NO : 12780 of 2000 Between: 1. S.Vittal, S/o.Late Peeraiah, R/o.Krishnapur Village, Kalher Mandal Medak District. 2.M.Sangaiah, S/o.Late Bagaiah, R/o.Kalher Village and Mandal Medak District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1. Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development rep. by its Secretary, Rural Development, New Delhi 2. State of A.P., rep. by its Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Dept., Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. 3. The District Collector & Chairman, Drought Prone Area Programme, D.P.A.P., Medak District, at Sangareddy. 4. The Project Director, Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) Medak District, at Sangareddy. 5. Sri Yesupadam, S/o.not known Multi Disciplinary Team Leader, D.P.A.P. Head Quarters, Narayankhed, Medak 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 a Writ, order or direction preferably in the nature of Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, declaring the action taken and to be taken by the Respondent Nos.3 to 5 is illegal, void and without jurisdiction besides the same being violative of the principles of natural justice and consequently set aside the impugned directions issued in Letter No.DPAP/38/2000, dated 27.4.2000 and other notices issued by the 4th respondent. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.C.R.PRATAP REDDY Counsel for the Respondent No.1: Mrs. REKHA PRASAD (S.C for CG) Counsel for the Respondent Nos.2 to 5: GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ & RURAL DEV. The Court made the following : THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION NO.12780 OF 2000 ORDER: First petitioner was elected as Chairman of Water Shed Committee of Krishnapur – Khanapur Watershed Association. Second petitioner was elected as Secretary of the said Association. As per the Watershed Development Scheme, Chairman, Secretary and Members of Watershed Committee will hold office for a period of four years. The Scheme is implemented by the District Rural Development Agency which appoints Project Implementation Agency (PIA). Be that as it is, on certain allegations of misappropriation, the Project Director, Drought Prone Area Programme, Medak, fourth respondent herein, issued orders on 27.4.2000 cancelling the cheque-drawing power of the Chairman and the Secretary pending further investigation. The said order is assailed in the Writ Petition. Even according to the petitioners, the term of the elected Watershed Development Committee is four years. Therefore, the term of the petitioners as Chairman and Secretary of the Krishnapur-Khanapur Watershed Association has already expired. Therefore, no purpose would be served by deciding the academic question involved in this Writ Petition. Therefore, the Writ Petition has become infructuous and is accordingly dismissed. ________________ (V.V.S.RAO, J) 17.8.2004 bnr To 1. The Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi 2. The Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Dept., Government of Andhra Pradesh, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. 3. The District Collector & Chairman, D.P.A.P., Medak District, at Sangareddy. 4. The Project Director, Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) Medak District, at Sangareddy. 5. Sri Yesupadam, S/o.not known Multi Disciplinary Team Leader, D.P.A.P. Head Quarters, Narayankhed, Medak District. 6. 2 CCs to the G.P. for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT) 7. 2CD copies