(1) 28wp3927.26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO.3927/2026 Sanjay Ramaji Wankhede ..vs.. Gram Panchayat Bokhara, thr. Its Secretary, Panchayat Samiti, Nagpur and anr. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Shantanu Ghate, Advocate for petitioner. Mr. B. N. Jaipurkar, Advocate for respondent Nos. 1 and 2. CORAM : ANIL L. PANSARE AND NIVEDITA P. MEHTA, JJ. DATE : OCTOBER 13, 2026 Heard. 2. Perused the order of suspension challenged before this Court. We have gone through the provisions of the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959. Section 61 thereof provides that the Panchayat may, by written order, suspend or dismiss any servant appointed by it. An appeal against such order shall lie before the Block Development Officer (“BDO”). 3. The order indicates that the petitioner who was working as Peon has misappropriated the funds collected towards taxes. He was found guilty in the inquiry and was suspended until further orders. 4. Counsel for petitioner submits that no inquiry was conducted. This plea, according to us, is available to the petitioner to urge before the Appellate Authority. The fact remains that the appeal against the order of suspension passed by the Panchayat lies before the BDO. The petitioner is at liberty to approach Appellate Authority. 5. With the aforesaid liberty, the petition is disposed of. All contentions raised in the petition are kept open. If appeal is so filed, the same shall be entertained by the BDO, in accordance with law. (JUDGE) (JUDGE) Kahale Signed by: Kahale Designation: Senior Pvt. Secretary Date: 13/10/2026 18:01:29