The Salem Collector was directed by the Madras High Court to convene a meeting of the Grama Sabha to elect the office-bearers of the Koonandiyur Integrated Watershed Management Programme (KIWMP) Committee.
Justice KK Sasidharan, who gave the direction while disposing of a writ petition from KP Govindan, also directed the Collector to send the list of elected persons to the District Watershed Development Agency (DWDA) for approval and release of funds for implementing the scheme namely Integrated Watershed Management Programme in Koonandiyur village panchayat.
According to petitioner, the State government, pursuant to the policy decision taken by the Centre, launched a scheme under the name of “Integrated Watershed Management Programme”. The Chief Executive Officer of the TN Watershed Development Agency called upon the district project officers to create Integrated Watershed Management Committee. The District Registrar registered the KIWMP Committee pursuant to the resolution passed by the panchayat. The Committee was elected and constituted by the Grama Sabha at its meeting held on January 26, 2012. The petitioner was elected as president of the committee. When he approached the DWDA for approval and funds for implementation of the scheme, the latter refused to approve the committee since one A Asaithambi made a claim that he was elected as president of the committee. Hence, the present petition.
The judge said it was not possible for the DWDA to recognize the committee unless there were materials before him to show that the grama sabha was convened with notice to all and a decision had been taken to appoint the petitioner as committee president. Since the petitioner and Asaithamabi claimed that they were elected, necessarily the issue required consideration by the grama sabha.
The officer nominated by the Collector should take part in the meeting, which should be convened and conducted in accordance with Chapter II of the TN Panchayat Act. The officer, after the meeting was over, should forward a report on the names and addresses of the persons, who have been elected as the president and office bearers of the committee. Thereafter, the collector should forward the list to the DWDA for passing orders regarding recognition and release of funds, the judge said.