THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 21667 OF 2008 O R D E R: The petitioner was elected as Member of Zilla Parishad of Karimnagar District. One Mr.Ch.Hanmandlu made a representation dated 12.4.2007 to the District Collector, Karimnagar, the 2nd respondent herein, alleging that the petitioner had three children, as on the date of ﬁling of the nominations, and that he incurred disqualiﬁcation, under Section 19(3) of the A.P. Panchayat Raj Act (for short “the Act”). The 2nd respondent is said to have given an opportunity to the petitioner, to oﬀer his remarks. Stating that the petitioner failed to oﬀer his remarks to the Tahsildar, the 2nd respondent passed an order dated 28.6.2008, disqualifying the petitioner to hold the oﬃce of ZPTC, with immediate eﬀect. The same is challenged in this writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, and learned counsel for the 3rd respondent. Section 19 of the Act prescribes the circumstances, under which the members of the concerned local body incur disqualification. Section 22 of the Act prescribes a detailed procedure to be followed, before a member can be held to be disqualiﬁed. The District Court is conferred with the power to adjudicate such matters. Not only the Chief Executive Oﬃcer of the concerned Institution, but also the eﬀected persons, are conferred with the right to approach the Court, for adjudication. Irrespective of the manner in which the proceedings are instituted, it is ultimately for the court, to decide, whether or not an individual had incurred disqualification. No other authority is conferred with the power to declare that a member had incurred disqualification. The District Collector does not ﬁgure any where in the entire scheme. Therefore, the impugned order is obviously without jurisdiction. Hence, the writ petition is allowed, and the impugned order is set aside. It is, however, left open to the concerned authorities to take necessary steps, in accordance with Section 22 of the Act. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________________ 30th September 2008 PAN