PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT, CHANDIGARH. *** CWP No. 12337 of 2009. Decided on August 17, 2009. *** Karamjit Singh Panch V State of Punjab and others. *** CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.S.Thakur, CJ and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kanwaljit SinghAhluwalia. *** Present: Shri K.S.Hissowal, Advocate, for the petitioner. *** T.S.Thakur, CJ (Oral) This writ petition filed in public interest assails an order dated July 06, 2009 passed by the Divisional Commissioner and Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Rural Development, Chandigarh whereby an order placing respondent No.5 under suspension has been set aside and the matter remanded back to the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat for passing a fresh order on the subject after affording to the said respondent an opportunity of being heard in the matter. We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner at some length and perused the order under challenge. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would be satisfied in case the Director,Rural Development and Panchayat to whom the matter has been remitted back for a fresh order and the DDPO, Ferozepur before whom respondent No.5 has filed an appeal against the order determining the amount embezzled by him are directed to dispose of the same within a definite time frame. He urged that unless the authorities expedite the disposal of the matter before them neither the recovery of the embezzled amount will be possible nor will the Sarpanch suffers any adverse action on account of his act of embezzlement. Mr. Rupinder Khosla, Addl: A.G.Punjab counsel appearing for the respondents on the other hand submits that the DDPO shall have no -2- CWP No. 12337 of 2009. difficulty in disposing off the appeal before him within a period of four weeks from today. In the interest of justice, however, we consider it appropriate to grant the DDPO two months time from the date a copy of this order is made available to him to finally dispose of the appeal filed by respondent No.5 before him. Depending upon the final order passed in the said appeal, the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat shall also pass an order on the question of suspension of respondent No.5 expeditiously and not later than two months from the date the appeal is disposed off by the DDPO. The writ petition is with the above observation, disposed off. No costs. A copy of the order be given dasti to Mr. Khosla, for onward transmission to the officer concerned, under the signatures of Court Master of the Bench. (T.S.Thakur) Chief Justice August 17, 2009 (Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia) Malik Judge