Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 23: The state high court (HC), whilst hearing a writ petition filed by Hemanth Shetty from Belma village in the taluk on Wednesday November 22, questioning the move of the gram panchayat in cancelling the building licence granted to him by it earlier without any basis, warned the government that the HC cannot be a mute spectator to its indifference to initiate action against government officials and others who function illegally.

The single judge bench of the HC presided over by Justice Vineet Kothari was hearing a writ petition moved by Shetty on Wednesday November 22.

The bench observed that documents submitted by the panchayat development officer (PDO) in support of his action in cancelling the building licence are not in order. It took the PDO to task for violating the order issued by a higher officer in the department and obeying the resolution passed by the gram panchayat, which it said, was illegal. It expressed unhappiness at the callous attitude of the government in not taking action against the concerned even after ten months since it served notice to the gram panchayat president and its members, warning them of cancelling their memberships. Noting that the attitude of procrastination cannot be tolerated, it said that the courts cannot close their eyes to such things.

The bench wanted to know from the advocate for the government as to what steps have been taken by the government against the concerned gram panchayat members including president. It wanted to know whether the government will take further steps on show cause notice or whether it wants the court to issue appropriate orders. It instructed rural development department principal secretary to file a report during the next hearing about steps taken over the show cause notice issued to gram panchayat members. The case now stands posted to November 29 for hearing.

The petitioner was represented in the court by advocate, Ketankumar Bolanathur.