The Madhya Pradesh High Court has disposed of a PIL seeking criminal prosecution against the sarpanch of a gram panchayat, directing the petitioner to approach the Collector of Jabalpur for the same.
The Jabalpur Division Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla, while disposing of the petition on August 18, suggested the petitioner to make a representation to the Collector, Jabalpur, who shall examine the matter in the light of the material produced before him and do the needful as warranted in law.
“While deciding the representation of the petitioner under intimation to him by a reasoned order within a period of three months after affording opportunity of hearing to the respondents. Accordingly the petition is disposed of,” the order read.
The PIL was filed by one Mohan Lal Patel way back in 2008, praying for a direction to the state for initiation of criminal prosecution against the Private Respondent for the alleged cognizable offence committed by him in his capacity as Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat, Simariya (Aalasur), Janpad Panchayat, Majholi, District Jabalpur.
Amanulla Usmani, Counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the inquiry report against the Private Respondent has also recorded the finding of misuse of public money. The petition has remained pending for the last 14 years.
Pushpendra Yadav, Additional Advocate General for the respondents/State, submitted that the petitioner may, if he has any material with him, approach the Collector, Jabalpur, who may examine the matter.