IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO:15233 OF 2010 DATED:5.7.2010 Between: Momin Shajid Basha. .....PETITIONER AND 1 State of A.P rep by its Principal Secretary & others. .....RESPONDENTs This Court made the following : THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO:15233 OF 2010 ORDER: The petitioner, the in-charge Sarpanch of Atmakur Gram Panchayat, challenges the notification dated 9.6.2010 issued by the State Election Commission stipulating the schedule for election to the post of Sarpanch of Atmakur Gram Panchayat. The ground of challenge is that upgradation of two Gram Panchayats i.e., Atmakur and Nandikotkur, as Nagar Gram panchayats was being contemplated and therefore the election to the post of Sarpanch was uncalled for at this stage. Once the election process has commenced with the issuance of the election notification, this Court in exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India would not interfere with or interdict the same unless exceptional circumstances warrant so. (Kalla Ramakrishna Vs. State Election Commission, Hyderabad[1]). The present case demonstrates that the petitioner, continuing as the in-charge sarpanch only wants to stall the election process and for the said purpose, he is grasping at straws by stating that the contemplated upgradation of the gram panchayat would bar the conducting of the election. The same does not constitute sufficient reason for this Court to stay the election process. The writ is devoid of merit and is accordingly dismissed. No order as to costs. ____________________ Justice Sanjay Kumar Date:5.7.2010. gurc THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO:15233 OF 2010 5th JULY, 2010 [1] 2004(6) ALD 587 (FB)