Andhra: Sarpanches to move High Court

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Sarpanches Association has decided to move the High Court challenging the state government’s decision to appoint MROs and MDOs as special officers of Gram Panchayats after the expiry of sarpanches’ term on August 22.Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of Krishna District Sarpanches Association meeting here on Friday, association founder president and MLC YB Rajendraprasad said the appointment of special officers to Gram Panchayats was against Articles 73 and 74 of the constitution.He flayed the state government for appointing special officers to Panchayats despite stiff opposition from sarpanches to the move.The association would file a petition in the High Court in this regard soon as no state appointed special officers to Gram Panchayats in the country, he said.The association demanded that the sarpanches be allowed to continue in the post as the person-in-charge till the conduct of elections.The village administration has gone haywire after the expiry of the term of sarpanches as there is none to monitor drinking water supply, sanitation and provision of basic amenities to people, he said.Already Mandal Parishads, Zilla Parishads, municipalities and municipal corporations are under the rule of special officers after the expiry of the term.In the absence of elected bodies, local MLAs and MPs have started wielding influence in spending funds on development works ignoring priorities, he alleged.Rajendraprasad flayed the government for its failure to hold elections to the local bodies soon after the expiry of their term to ensure better governance.Krishna District Sarpanches Association president Veldi Srinivas and advisor Veeranki Gurumurthy were also present.