Shiv Singh vs State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others

Vijay Kumar Shukla, J

In the instant petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, following reliefs have been prayed by the petitioner :-

(i) Final Notification of delimitation of Gram Panchayat Sumrakhedi and Gram Panchayat Umariya Devda, both dated 22/08/2019 (Annexure P/4) be quashed.

(ii) The respondents be directed to conduct fresh delimitation of Gram Panchayat Sumrakhedi and Gram Panchayat Umariya Devda by including village Kachnariya in Gram Panchayat Umariya Devda.

(iii) Any other relief which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit be granted to the petitioner.

Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the issues raised in the present petition have already been decided by this Court in W.P. No.18677/2019 (Gram Panchayat Singhoda, Janpad Panchayat Bairasia, Zila Panchayat Bhopal vs. State of Madhya Pradesh and others) on 24.2.2020 and the procedure prescribed under the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Avam Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 and the Rules made therein have been strictly followed by the competent authority. The preliminary notification was issued. The objections were invited and those objections which were received within the date fixed for receiving the objections, were considered by the competent authority and thereafter, the final notification was issued.

This Court after taking into consideration the judgment passed by the Supreme Court in the case of State of U.P. and others vs. Pradhan Sangh Kshetra Samiti and others [(1995) Supp 2 SCC 305] and the judgment passed by the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Pranay Gupta vs. State of M.P. and others [2005 (1) JLJ 295] held that unless it is established that the objections were not invited and no hearing has been given to the objectors, the order of delimitation cannot be interfered with especially when there is no allegation of malafide.

In the present case also, the petitioner failed to establish that the objections were not invited and no hearing was given to the objectors. On the contrary, the respondents have placed the material to show that in pursuant to the preliminary notification, the objections were invited and were placed before the competent authority with the comments and thereafter, the final notification has been issued.

In view of the aforesaid and in absence of allegation of malafide, we do not perceive any illegality in passing the impugned order as would warrant an indulgence.

Consequently, petition fails and is dismissed. No costs.