HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.22324 of 2011 Date: 20-9-2011 Between Gram Panchayat, Tekkali, Srikakulam district, Rep. by its Sarpanch Kolla Appanna … Petitioner and The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Principal Secretary to Government, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (Pts.IV) Department, A.P.Secretariat, Hyderabad and 3 others … Respondents HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.22324 of 2011 Order: The petitioner, a Sarpanch of Tekkali Gram Panchayat, Srikakulam district, has filed this writ petition challenging Memo No.5172/Pts.IV/A1/10-2, dated 15-6-2011, of the 1st respondent calling upon the Gram Panchayat for its objections, if any, for upgradation of the Gram Panchayat as Nagara Panchayat. According to the petitioner, Tekkali Gram Panchayat has not attained the features required for its upgradation. As per Rule 2 of A.P. Transitional Area and Smaller Urban Areas (Fixation of Criteria) Rules, 1995 a Panchayat in order to be upgraded should satisfy certain requirements as to the population, revenue and the urban characteristics. According to the petitioner, none of the features enumerated in the Rule exists in the Tekkali Gram Panchayat justifying the upgradation. It is stated that the Gram Panchayat passed a resolution in its General Body Meeting, dated 12-12-2009, opposing the upgradation and submitted the same to the District Collector. Apprehending that the objections will not be taken into consideration in proper perspective, the petitioner has filed this writ petition for the aforesaid relief. 2. Considering the issue involved in this writ petition, this Court by order dated 27-7-2011 in W.P.No.21032 of 2011, permitted the petitioner therein to submit the objections, if any, to the proposal vide Memo dated 09-6-2011 of the 1st respondent within a period of two weeks from the date of the said order and if an objection is so received within the said period, the same shall be taken into consideration by the 1st respondent while taking a decision in the subject matter and that if no such objection is received within the stipulated time, the 1st respondent is at liberty to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. 3. Sri S.Satyam Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj appearing for the respondents 1, 3 and 4, and the learned Government Pleader for Municipal Administration and Urban Development appearing for the 2nd respondent submit that this writ petition is squarely covered by the said order. 4. In view of the same, this writ petition is disposed of, at the stage of admission, permitting the Tekkali Gram Panchayat to submit the objections, if any, to the proposal vide Memo No.5172/Pts.IV/A1/10-2, dated 15-6-2011, of the 1st respondent within a period of two weeks from today. If an objection is so received within the said period, the same shall be taken into consideration by the 1st respondent while taking a decision in the subject matter. If no such objection is received within the stipulated time, the 1st respondent is at liberty to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. No costs. ___________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 20th September, 2011. Ak HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI Writ Petition No.22324 of 2011 20th September, 2011. (Ak)