HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI G.S. SINGHVI AND HON’BLE SHRI JUSTICE G. V. SEETHAPATHY WRIT PETITION Nos. 10699, 11303, 11316, 11598, 11665, 11810, 11851, 11883, 11965, 11972, 11977, 12001, 12084, 12092, 12097, 12098, 12106, 12230, 12315, 12329, 12726, 13579, 13991, 14101, 14111, 14119, 14129, 14242, 14253, 14270, 14282, 14290,14323, 14324, 14333, 14398, 14410, 14440, 14469, 14542, 14647, 14684, 14786, 14787 and 14807 of 2006 Writ Petition No.10699 of 2006 Between: Burri China Venkateshwarlu & another. … Petitioners. AND District Collector (Election Authority), Prakasam District at Ongole & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : None. Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.5 : None Writ Petition No.11303 of 2006 Between: Mudireddy Pedda Konda Reddy & another. … Petitioners. AND Village Secretary, Annapusastrulapalli village & Post, Duvvuru Mandal, Kadapa District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri S.R.Sanku Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 and 2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.11316 of 2006 Between: Chintapalli Ramunaidu … Petitioner. AND Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11598 of 2006 Between: Leela Konidena & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri V.Venugopala Rao Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11665 of 2006 Between: Karanam Chenchu Punnaiah Chowdary & others. … Petitioners. AND Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Prakasam District, Ongole & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Satyanarayana Nimmagadda Counsel for the Respondents : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11810 of 2006 Between: M. Nageswara Rao & others. … Petitioners. AND Commissioner, Panchayat Raj, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Naresh Byrapaneni Counsel for Respondent Nos.1, 3 & 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.11851 of 2006 Between: Paluri Satyanarayana & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri S.Subba Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11883 of 2006 Between: Cheruku Sanjeeva Reddy … Petitioner. AND State Election Commissioner, rep. by its Secretary, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11965 of 2006 Between: Patolla Narasimha Reddy & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri P.Raghavender Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.11972 of 2006 Between: Gade Raja Reddy … Petitioner. AND District Collector, Warangal District, Warangal & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 and : Government Pleader for 3 to 5 Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.11977 of 2006 Between: Bashetty Ashok & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Chilumala Pratap Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12001 of 2006 Between: Palle Muthaiah & another. … Petitioners. AND Chief Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12084 of 2006 Between: Nagabairu Sambasiva Rao & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri A.Rajendra Babu Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12092 of 2006 Between: M. Veerabhadra Reddy & others. … Petitioners. AND District Panchayat Officer, Prakasam District, Ongole & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri K.S. Murthy Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 and : Government Pleader for 3 to 5 Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.12097 of 2006 Between: Dasari Narayana Rao … Petitioner. AND Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 and : Government Pleader for 3 to 5 Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.12098 of 2006 Between: Kommera Lakshman & another. … Petitioners. AND Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : None Counsel for Respondents : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12106 of 2006 Between: Sakkurthu Vara Prasad … Petitioner. AND State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12230 of 2006 Between: G. Vemana Rao … Petitioner. AND Chief Election Commissioner, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri V. Sankara Rao Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12315 of 2006 Between: Yerrabiki Venkat Rao … Petitioner. AND Electoral Registration Officer-cum- Revenue Divisional Officer, Narsaraopeta, Guntur District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 3 & 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.4 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.12329 of 2006 Between: Smt.B.T. Balamani … Petitioner. AND State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.12726 of 2006 Between: Jerripotula Venkateshwarlu & others. … Petitioners. AND Returning Officer, Mandal Parishad, Khanapur, Warangal District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : None Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 & 2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.13579 of 2006 Between: V. Sri Rami Reddy & others. … Petitioners. AND District Collector-cum-Electoral Officer, Prakasam District at Ongole & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : None Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 & 2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.13991 of 2006 Between: Veerelli Prasad & another. … Petitioners. AND Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, rep. by Election Commissioner, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri M.Venkata Narayana Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14101 of 2006 Between: Kurakula Naidu & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commissioner, Hyderabad & another. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : None Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14111 of 2006 Between: Sanghu Padmavathi & another. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri M.Subba Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14119 of 2006 Between: M. Subba Reddy … Petitioner. AND Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri T.Niranjan Reddy Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.5 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14129 of 2006 Between: Md.Nayeemuddin & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Chilumala Pratap Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14242 of 2006 Between: L. Shiva Govinda Prasad Reddy & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri M.Venkata Narayana Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14253 of 2006 Between: Cherukuru Narashimhulu … Petitioner. AND Mandal Revenue Officer, Dhuthaluru, Nellore District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Smt. Chandana Madala Counsel for the Respondents : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14270 of 2006 Between: Jampani Kotaiah & others. … Petitioners. AND State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Venkata Rangadas Kanuri Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 3 & 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.4 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14282 of 2006 Between: Marripudi Anjaiah & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commissioner, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri M.S.N.Prasad Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri M.Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14290 of 2006 Between: Paruchuri Bose … Petitioner. AND Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri Ch.Ravindra Babu Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 3 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.4 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14323 of 2006 Between: Arikatla Sri Rama Murthy … Petitioner. AND Election Commissioner, State Election Commission, Hyderabad & another. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri C.Ramachandra Raju Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14324 of 2006 Between: Nallamalpu Subba Reddy … Petitioner. AND State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabd & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri A.Jagan Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14333 of 2006 Between: Veeramalla Anjaiah & another. … Petitioners. AND State of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri V.Brahmaiah Chowdary Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 and : Government Pleader for 3 to 6 Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14398 of 2006 Between: Gangireddi Malla Reddy & others. … Petitioners. AND District Collector and District Election Authority, Adilabad District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri D.Bhaskar Reddy Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 3 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.4 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14410 of 2006 Between: Gunji Thirupathaiah … Petitioner. AND Election Commissioner, State Election Commission, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri C.Ramachandra Raju Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14440 of 2006 Between: Katchala Krishna & another. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri V.Venugopala Rao Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 5 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14469 of 2006 Between: K. Guruvara Kumar & others. … Petitioners. AND District Collector-cum-Electoral Officer, Prakasam District, Ongole & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Y.Kishore Babu Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 & 2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14542 of 2006 Between: Karumudi Chinna Masthan Reddy … Petitioner. AND State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri K.Ananda Rao Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 & 3 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14647 of 2006 Between: Kondusingh Ramanaiah & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commissioner, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri M.Brahma Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14684 of 2006 Between: Chintala Maheswari … Petitioner. AND Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri Mohd.Rahail Ahmed Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent No.2 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No.3 : Sri R.Prem Sagar Writ Petition No.14786 of 2006 Between: Pulicharu Ramesh … Petitioner. AND District Collector & Election Authority, Warangal, Warangal District & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioner : Sri A.Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.1 to 3 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent Nos.4 and 5 : Sri R.Prem Sagar Counsel for Respondent No.6 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Writ Petition No.14787 of 2006 Between: D.Venkatsewarlu & others. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri Satyanarayana Nimmagadda Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 6 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Writ Petition No.14807 of 2006 Between: S. Iddaiah & another. … Petitioners. AND State Election Commission, Secunderabad & others. … Respondents. Counsel for the Petitioners : Sri C.Damodar Reddy Counsel for Respondent No.1 : Sri V.V. Prabhakara Rao Counsel for Respondent Nos.2 to 4 : Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. Counsel for Respondent No. 5 : Sri R.Prem Sagar ::O R D E R :: 25th JULY 2006 Per G.S.Singhvi, C.J. In these petitions, the petitioners have prayed for issue of a writ of mandamus to the respondents to include their names in the electoral rolls of their respective villages and allow them to cast votes in the forthcoming election to Gram Panchayats. Learned counsel representing the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission says that the applications made by the petitioners will be considered, dealt with and decided by the competent authorities within a period of 48 hours and the decision would be communicated to the concerned applicants. He further states that the names of those found eligible to be included in the voters’ list will be added in the electoral rolls and they will be allowed to cast vote in the forthcoming election. In our opinion, the statement made by the learned counsel for the State Election Commission adequately meets the ends of justice. Therefore, all the writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions:- 1) The concerned competent authorities shall, within 48 hours, deal with and dispose of the applications made by the petitioners for inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls of their respective villages. The decision of the concerned authorities shall be communicated to the applicants who shall present themselves before the concerned authorities between 12.00 noon of 27th July, 2006 and 12.00 noon of 28th July, 2006. 2) The names of the persons who are found entitled to be included in the electoral rolls shall be added in the electoral rolls by issuing necessary amendments and they shall be allowed to cast vote in the forthcoming elections of Gram Panchayats to be held on 29th July, 2006 and thereafter. The aforementioned directions shall be carried out by all the concerned officers without fail. G.S.SINGHVI, C.J. 25th July, 2006. G. V. SEETHAPATHY, J. Note: The Court Officer is directed to give attested copies of this order to the learned counsel representing the State Election Commission, Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and counsel representing the petitioners. ARS