Hyderabad: Justice A. Rajasekhar Reddy of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday suspended a GO issued by the Telangana State government directing that the gram panchayat funds be operated by the sarpanch with the joint signature of panchayat secretary. The judge was dealing with a plea by N. Narasimha Reddy and four others Sarpanches from Ranga Reddy district challenging the GO.
They submitted that all orders or cheques against the gram panchayat fund shall be signed by the sarpanch by virtue of Section 40 relating to certain taxes by the gram panchayat and payment of money from the gram panchayat fund.
They said contrary to the Rule, the government had issued the GO without amending the rules. While granting the interim order, the judge made it clear that if the government wants to impose such a restriction, it should amend the rules and till such time, the GO cannot stand scrutiny of law.
