‘Won’t step in to fix municipal areas’

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose before whom the petition moved by A Vembusekaran, exPanchayat president, Chandrasekarapuram Village, Rasipuram Taluk, Namakkal District, came up for hearing, said, “Since the proposal has not been finalised the writ petition is premature. Even otherwise as observed by us whether merger is expedient or not is not for the Court to decide. It is needless to mention that the merger shall be effected in accordance with law.” 

The petitioner had contended that Chandrasekarapuram along with 19 other villages forms part of Rasipuram Panchayat Union. Of them, Muthukalipatti, Gavumdampalayam and Karukkapuram villages are largest in terms of area as well as revenue generation. But notwithstanding the objections raised by the villagers, a proposal was reportedly sent by the Commissioner, Rasipuram Municipality, to merge the four villages, including Chandrasekarapuram with Rasipuram Municipality, in a bid to generate revenue to the state. 

Also, noting that there are various schemes, both central and state, sanctioned for a panchayat and many villagers are benefited by this, the petitioner alleged that all these benefits will be lost if the panchayat is merged with the municipality. 

Moreover, on submitting that the decision of the Commissioner of Municipality to merge is arbitrary, not informed by any reason, contrary to law and violative of article 14 of the Constitution, he said apart from the above, other grievances were also placed before the Commissioner and since there was no response from the Commissioner on the representation made by the villagers opposing the merger, he had no choice but to move the High Court for relief.

Based on this, he sought the court to pass an order restraining the authorities from, in anyway, considering the proposal of merging Chandrasekarapuram Panchayat with Rasipuram Municipality.