Prakash v. The District Collector

ORDER

¶1The petitioner is before this Court seeking a direction to the first respondent to accord sanction for the commencement of various developmental works in Thirukkunam Village Panchayat, Kosapalayam, pursuant to the resolutions passed by the Village Panchayat, and for consequential reliefs.

¶2The petitioner is the President of Thirukkunam Village Panchayat. It is the petitioner's case that the Village Panchayat passed resolutions for undertaking various public welfare and developmental works within the Panchayat limits, along with the estimated cost of each work, and forwarded the same to the fourth respondent for verification and onward transmission to the first respondent for approval. According to the petitioner, the resolutions were submitted to the fourth respondent on

06.01.2025 and 09.01.2025. The grievance of the petitioner is that the fourth respondent, without assigning any valid reason, has failed to verify the proposals and forward them to the first respondent for approval, thereby adversely affecting the interests of the residents of the Village Panchayat.

¶3Heard Mr. Avinash Wadhwani, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, and Mr. P. Siddarth, learned Government Advocate, appearing Page3 of 6 for the respondents.

¶4For the sake of convenience, the details of the proposed works and the corresponding resolutions passed by the Village Panchayat, as tabulated by the petitioner, are reproduced below: S l. N o. List of works Date of Resolution Estimated amount

¶1Distribution for pipeline work

02.10.2024 3,70,000/-

¶2Pumping main pipeline work 496 M @ Erikkarai Borewell

23.11.2024 2,26,500/-

¶3Pumping main pipeline work 1492M @ Navukuttai Open well

02.10.2024 6,44,000/-

¶4Work of construction of 1.5m span RCC slab culvert

23.11.2024 5,20,000/-

¶5Construction of Chain link fencing to the tree plantation @ Thangal Eri North, East and South side in Thirukkunnam Panchayat

09.1.2025

18.515 lakhs

¶6Chain link fencing to the tree plantation @ Kosapalayam

03.01.2025

9.95 lakhs

¶7Chain link fencing to the tree plntation @ Kosapalayam

03.01.2025

9.890 lakhs

¶8Construction of Cement Concrete Road in Sankari House to Library Street

04.10.2024 9,60,000

¶9Construction of Cement Concrete Road Kosapalayam

23.11.2024 3,71,000

¶0Construction of Cement Concrete Drainage Thirukkunam Colony Second Street

01.05.2022 & 30.9.2024 9,83,000

¶1Construction of Concrete Road in Thirukkunnam Colony 4th Street

30.09.2024 9,83,000

¶2Construction of Concrete Road in Kamatchiyamman Kovil Street to VAO Office Street

01.05.2022 &

02.10.2024 9,83,000

¶3Construction of Concrete Road in Sakkarapani House to Anbarasan House

02.10.2024 9,75,000 The provisions of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Preparation of Plans Page4 of 6 and Estimates for Works and Mode and Conditions of Contracts) Rules, 1998 govern the execution of works undertaken by Village Panchayats, Panchayat Unions and District Panchayats where such works are funded through Government grants. The said Rules do not apply to works executed by a Village Panchayat out of its own funds. In the present case, the procedure prescribed under the said Rules is applicable. Under the Rules, in respect of works estimated to cost more than ₹1,00,000/-, the District Collector, being the Inspector of Panchayats, is the competent authority to accord administrative sanction. Consequently, the fourth respondent is under a statutory obligation to verify the resolutions passed by the Village Panchayat and forward the same to the first respondent for approval. Admittedly, the fourth respondent has not taken any steps to forward the resolutions to the first respondent for appropriate action.

¶5Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the fourth respondent to verify the resolutions submitted by the petitioner and forward the same to the first respondent for approval within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Upon receipt of the resolutions from the fourth respondent, the first respondent shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, within a period of two months thereafter. There shall be no order as to costs. 08-07-2026 Page5 of 6 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ssk To

¶1The District Collector O/o The District Collector Villupuram

¶2The Additional Collector Project Development Officer Collector Office Road Villupuram 605 602

¶3The Director District Project Development Villupuram 605 602

¶4The Block Development Officer O/o of BDO, Kanai, Villupuram 605 301 WPoNo.o7878oofo2025 HEMANToCHANDANGOUDAR,oJ. ssk WPoNo.o7878oofo2025 08-07-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 08-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Prakash ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The District Collector O/o The District Collector Villupuram 2. The Additional Collector Project Development Officer Collector Office Road Villupuram 605 602 3. The Director District Project Development Villupuram 605 602 4. The Block Development Officer O/o of BDO Kanai Villupuram 605 301 ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to issue sanction for commencement of works in Tirukkunam Village Panchayat, Kosapalayam in pursuance of the resolutions passed by the Village Panchayat. For Petitioner(s): Mr.Avinash Wadhwani For Respondent(s): Mr.P.Siddarth, Government Advocate Page2 of 6