THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI WRIT PETITION No.19060 OF 2011 BETWEEN: 1.S. Shankar Goud and another …. PETITIONERS And 1. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. By its Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad, and others. …. RESPONDENTS Counsel for petitioner: Sri P. Achutham Reddy Counsel for respondents: G.P. for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development. The Court made the following order: ORDER: The 1st petitioner claims to be a Ward Member of the 8th respondent-Kuntloor Gram Panchayat and the 2nd petitioner is an agriculturist and resident of the said village. They have filed this writ petition challenging the orders of the 2nd respondent-District Collector, Ranga Reddy District dated 13.10.3010 according administrative sanction for construction of Gram Panchayat building to the 8th respondent Gram Panchayat, on an estimated cost of Rs.10,00,000/-, and the orders dated 24.06.2011 wherein the District Collector accorded permission for construction of the said building, as illegal. Brief facts are that Government of India issued certain guidelines permitting construction of Gram Panchayat buildings where the Panchayats have no pucca buildings under MGNREGS scheme. In pursuance of the said guidelines, the State Government issued orders in G.O.Ms.No.220 Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (RD.II) Department, dated 11.06.2010 according approval to undertake construction of as many as 5273 Gram Panchayat building meeting the cost from MGNREGS funds released for the year 2010-2011. Accordingly the District Collector identified the 8th respondent Gram Panchayat as one of the Gram Panchayats entitled for the benefit under the scheme and accordingly granted administrative sanction by orders dated 13.10.2010. The Gram Panchayat also passed a resolution on 28.10.2010 approving the construction of building. It appears that some of the villagers of Kuntloor village made a representation to the District Collector opposing the construction of building on the ground that the Gram Panchayat has its own building since 1990 and requested the District Collector to sanction a community hall building instead of the Gram Panchayat. In pursuance of the said objection, the District Collector called for reports as to the feasibility of construction of a new building. On a consideration of the reports, the 2nd respondent passed the orders dated 24.06.2010 permitting the construction of a new building. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the impugned orders according sanction for construction of new building is opposed to the scheme in G.O.Ms.No.220, dated 11.06.2010. According to him, the Gram Panchayat by its resolution dated 28.10.2010 has resolved to construct a community hall in the place now earmarked for construction of Gram Panchayat building and that the Panchayat is already functioning in its own building. Therefore, he submits that there is no necessity for construction of a new building. It may be true that earlier there was a resolution dated 26.08.2010 of the Gram Panchayat resolving to construct a community hall on the proposed site. But subsequently, the Gram Panchayat adopted a resolution on 28.10.2010 resolving to construct a building for the purpose of Gram Panchayat. The District Collector caused an enquiry as to the feasibility and necessity of a new building through the Mandal Parishad Development Officer. The said Mandal Parishad Development Officer submitted a report stating that the existing building is not sufficient for the office and it is not convenient for conducting the meetings. There is no sufficient space for conducting General Body Meetings and Grama Sabhas. The building is also not convenient for the public as the premises is congested. Further the office is located at four road junction, which is a heavy traffic area causing sound pollution. A further report was called for from the Divisional Panchayat Officer, who visited the village and submitted a report stating that the existing building is in dilapidated condition and that the new building will be in the interest of the public. Thus on the reports submitted by the aforesaid officers recommending construction of new building, the District Collector accepted the said repots and accorded permission. In as much as the District Collector has granted permission on the resolution of the Gram Panchayat dated 28.10.2010, taking into consideration the relevant facts as per the scheme in G.O.Ms.No.220, dated 11.06.2010 the impugned decision cannot be faulted with. It may be mentioned that matters of this nature which are concerned with the location of a Gram Panchayat office are within the comprehension of the concerned authorities. Decisions taken by them, basing on relevant material, cannot be substituted by the opinion of the Courts exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The writ petition is misconceived, devoid of merits and the same is accordingly dismissed at the admission stage. No costs. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J. 8th July, 2011 Js