IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.16904 OF 2010 DATED:08.09.2010 Between: The Ganapavaram Gram Panchayat Nandendla Mandal, Guntur District Rep. by its Sarpanch Sri V. Himavantha Rao S/o. Raghava Rao Ganapavaram Village, Nandendla Mandal Guntur District … Petitioner And The Government of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by its Principal Secretary Panchayat Raj Department Secretariat, Hyderabad and others … Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.16904 OF 2010 ORDER: Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, and as the revision petition filed by the sixth respondent is pending consideration before the Government, this writ petition is disposed of at the request of the learned counsel for the parties. The petitioner is a Gram Panchayat. It seeks directions by way of Mandamus to declare the action of first respondent – Government in proceeding with the revision petition No.1703/M(PR)/09 filed by the sixth respondent by not allowing the petitioner to engage an Advocate on behalf of the Gram Panchayat. Sixth respondent has filed the revision petition against the petitioner Gram Panchayat and three others questioning the proceedings of the Gram Panchayat issued by its Panchayat Secretary, dated 04-10-2008, with a further direction to release approved plans for construction of proposed Oil and Ginning Mill in S. No.203/B1, 110/A3B, 1B, 3B3, 1/3C, B/BC, C3B, 127/2A1, 2A2, 2B, 127/1, 112/F, 3F, SF, 109/1A, 1B, 1C, 111/3A, 3B, 3C, 110/3/B of Ganapavaram Village, Nadendla Mandal, Guntur District. While the revision petition was pending, a clarification was sought for whether Panchayat Secretary can engage an Advocate. When it was clarified by the respondent authorities that Panchayat Secretary can place documents and he need not engage an Advocate, this writ petition is filed by the Gram Panchayat. There cannot be any restriction or prohibition either for Gram Panchayat or for Secretary of Gram Panchayat to engage a Counsel to represent their case before the Government. In that view of the matter, as the revision petition is pending before the Government, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with the direction to first respondent to permit the petitioner – Gram Panchayat or Secretary of the Gram Panchayat to engage Advocate to defend their case in the revision petition filed by the sixth respondent. Subject to the above observations, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________________ R. SUBHASH REDDY, J 08.09.2010 bnr Note: C.C. in three (3) days. (B.O) bnr