CWP No.5911 of 2010 1 IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Civil Writ Petition No.5911 of 2010 Date of decision: 1.4.2010 Gram Panchayat Village Mansuran ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr. M.S. Chicha, Advocate, for the petitioner. Rajan Gupta, J. (oral) The petitioner Gram Panchayat has sought a writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondents to regulate/distribute payment of grants as provided under Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 as also to restrain them from using the funds meant for Gram Panchayat through any other department/agency other than the Gram Panchayat. It has been averred in the writ petition that in the SANGAT DARSHAN, held on 27th December, 2008, the Chief Minister, Punjab had issued a grant of Rs.3.00 lacs to the petitioner Gram Panchayat and also a sum of Rs.2.00 lacs on 5th February, 2010. However, instead of issuing cheque in the name of Gram Panchayat, officials of the Panchayati Raj Department were asked to act as executing agency. The amount in question is being used for construction of private roads and drainage of waste water in front of Durga Devi Mandir. This, according to the petitioner, is not permissible in view of provisions of Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. CWP No.5911 of 2010 2 Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that funds granted to the Gram Panchayat can be used only through the aegis of Gram Panchayat and no other agency can be entrusted for spending the said amount. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and given careful thought to the facts of the case. The only grievance of the petitioner is that the funds, which were granted by the Chief Minister in a special programme known as SANGAT DARSHAN, was ordered to be spent through officials of Panchayati Raj Department. Admittedly, the funds are being used for construction of road and drainage of waste water in front of a Mandir situated in the village. It appears that grant of Rs.3.00 lacs was given in a special scheme known as SANGAT DARSHAN. Since the grant is being used for benefit of the village, no interference is called for in writ jurisdiction of this court. The petition is devoid of merit. The same is hereby dismissed. (RAJAN GUPTA) JUDGE 1.4.2010 'rajpal'