
Plea to recover funds misappropriated by panchayat chief dismissed
has dismissed a plea by a man seeking a direction to the authorities to take appropriate steps to recover public funds allegedly misappropriated by a panchayat president in Tenkasi district.
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The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by T Murugan. The petitioner stated that the Swajaldhara scheme was introduced across the country to provide drinking water to every citizen. The funds were allocated by the Centre to the state, which then allocated the same to districts. The petitioner stated that the president of Avudayanoor village panchayat in Tenkasi district, by misusing his power, misappropriated the funds without providing individual connections to the villagers.
He alleged that the president also collected money from the villagers for providing such connections.
He stated that the Tenkasi district collector/inspector of panchayats initiated action against the president. After an inquiry, it was concluded that the president caused a loss to the panchayat and swindled public money. Even then, no action was taken against him. Murugan stated that he submitted a representation to the authorities in this regard; however, the same is yet to be considered.
Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to the authorities to take appropriate action to recover the money from the president.
A division bench of justice J Nisha Banu and justice S Srimathy observed that though the petitioner filed this public interest litigation seeking a direction to the authorities concerned to take action against the panchayat president for misappropriation of public money, the court cannot delve into such disputed facts. If the petitioner is aggrieved, he shall agitate before the appropriate forum, the judges observed and dismissed the petition.

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