CHENNAI: The inspectors of panchayats (district collectors) should exercise their powers with utmost care and caution while acting against village panchayat presidents, the Madras HC has said.The power cannot be used in a routine or casual manner, Justice V Dhanapalan observed while disposing of a writ petition from Soma Thamilarvan, president of Rishiyur panchayat in Thiruvarur district, challenging the show-cause notice issued by the collector seeking his explanation on 14 charges levelled against him.The judge said the Panchayat Raj system in India was well developed. Several of the legislations were aimed at achieving transparency in the democratic functioning of the system. The elected body enjoys the confidence of the people and they should be directed to continue in the office. Section 205 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act had given a supervisory jurisdiction to the district collector in his capacity as inspector of panchayats, over the democratically elected president and vice president of the village panchayat. “The statute permits the Inspector to take action on his own motion or at the instance of 2/3rd of the members of the panchayat against the president. Therefore, such absolute power should be exercised with utmost care and caution and not in a routine or casual manner,” the judge added.
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