HC stays G.O. Empowering village panchayats to draw salary

The Madras High Court today stayed a Tamil Nadu government order empowering village panchayats to draw salary from village panchayat general funds.
"Only with regard to drawal of salary from the village panchayat general fund, the government order is stayed," Justice N Kirubakaran said when a petition filed by one P R Rangarajan, President, Kovai District Panchayat Presidents Welfare Association, Coimbatore came up before him.
The matter relates to two G.O.S issued in September, of which one mentions creation of 120 posts of Village Panchayat Development Officers (VPDOs) in cadre of village panchayat, having annual income of more than Rs one crore in 26 districts.

The second GO mentions streamlining of the panchayat administration for implementation of various rural development schemes.
Under these government orders, Collector of the district is empowered to appoint Panchayat Development Officer on recommendations of the committee. Only seniormost Assistants are eligible to be appointed as Village Panchayat Development Officers and the tenure of the post shall be for two years.
A sub Section of second G.O says the salary and other allowances of the VPDO will be met from the village panchayat general fund, which has been challenged.

The petitioner submitted that the G.O directing to draw salary for the Development Officer from the Village Panchayat General fund was a flagrant violation of the statutory provisions and liable to be set-aside.

He also submitted that the above G.O. Does not fall under any of the provisions mentioned of Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act 1994 and hence it is ultravires and unconstitutional.
Rangarajan alleged that the G.O. Would adversely affect common people of village panchayats as government orders have cost heavy expenditure to the Panchayat General Fund, reserved for the welfare of the panchayat people.
Hence he prayed that the Court quash the same which will cause heavy financial loss to the Village Panchayat General fund.