APHC010026432026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] TUESDAY, THE 14th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 1813/2026 Between: 1. KODURU VIJAYA BHASKAR, S/O. K. NARAYANA, AGED 40 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS, R/O. H.NO. 5/72, PENAGALURU VILLAGE, PENAGALURU MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516127. 2. BASIREDDY VENKATA SESHA REDDY, , S/O. B. RAMA KRISHNA REDDY, AGED 57YEARS, OCC AGRICULTURE , R/O. H.NO. 1-14C, PENAGALURU VILLAGE, PENAGALURU MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516127. 3. PALLALA VENKATESH,, S/O.PALLALA SUBBARAYUDU, AGED 37 YEARS, OCC AGRICULTURE, R/O. H.NO. 3/126, PENAGALURU VILLAGE, PENAGALURU MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516127. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522237. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, TADEPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT - 522501. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR PANCHAYAT WING, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT AT RAYACHOTY - 516269. SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 2 4. THE DISTRICT PANCHAYAT OFFICER, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT AT RAYACHOTY - 516269. 5. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, RAJAMPETA REVENUE DIVISION, RAJAMPETA, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516115. 6. THE DIVISIONAL PANCHAYAT OFFICER, MPDO OFFICE, PENAGALUR VILLAGE, PENAGALUR MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516127. 7. THE PANCHAYAT SECRETARY CUM EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, PENAGALUR GRAM PANCHAYAT, PENAGALUR MANDAL, ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT - 516127. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in proceedings with the trifurcation of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat into three separate Gram Panchayats by the official respondents , inspite of the unanimously rejected by the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat Board Resolutions dated 24.12.2025, as illegal, arbitrary and violation of the Section 3 of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and rules under G. O. Ms. No. 542 dated 03.12.2007 and consequently direct the Respondent No. 1 to 6 to stop all the proceedings relating to the proposals, memos, if any acts relating to the trifurcation of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased Pleased to issue interim direction to the Respondent No. 1 to 6 to consider the Gram Sabha and Board Resolution of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat dated 24.12.2025 and stop the Proposal of trifurcation of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat into three separate Gram Panchayats and pending disposal of the Writ Petition and pass SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 3 Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. RAJENDRA C Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV 2. GP FOR REVENUE SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 4 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:1813 of 2026 The Court made the following Order: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer: “…to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in proceedings with the trifurcation of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat into three separate Gram Panchayats by the official respondents, inspite of the unanimously rejected by the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat Board Resolutions dated 24.12.2025, as illegal, arbitrary and violation of the Section 3 of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and rules under G. O.Ms. No. 542 dated 03.12.2007 and consequently direct the Respondent No.1 to 6 to stop all the proceedings relating to the proposals, memos, if any acts relating to the trifurcation of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat and pass such other order or orders…” 2. The petitioner is a resident of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat, a single administrative unit established under the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (for short “the Act”). It is the case of the petitioner that basing on a representation dated 29.07.2025 submitted by one Sri. Nagineni Murali Krishna alias Kola Murali S/o. Narasimhulu to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh seeking division of Pengaluru Gram Panchayat into three Gram Panchayats, respondent authorities initiated steps to trifurcate the existing Gram Panchayat into three Gram Panchayats namely SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 5 (i) Penagaluru, (ii) P. Kothapalli, and (iii) Indluru, without adhering to the provisions of the Act and without obtaining the mandatory approval of the Grama Sabha. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the respondent Nos.1 to 6 are acting contrary to Section 3 of the Act and Rules issued in G.O.Ms.No.542, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PTS.IV) Department, dated 03.12.2007. Pursuant to the said representation, respondent No.4 issued Memo in R.C. No.1987/2025-A1 dated 07.11.2025, directing the concerned authorities to examine the matter at the field level and submit a detailed report within 15 days. Thereafter, respondent No.4 issued another Memo in Roc No.208/2025-A dated 14.11.2025, directing respondent No.7 to convene a Grama Sabha for ascertaining the public opinion regarding the proposed trifurcation of Penaguluru Gram Panchayat into three Gram Panchayats. 4. In connection with the Memos dated 07.11.2025 and 14.11.2025, petitioners took all steps to convene a meeting of the Grama Sabha. A public notice dated 21.12.2025 was issued notifying that the meetings of Grama Sabha and the Gram Panchayat would be held on 24.12.2025 at 11:00 A.M. and 12:00 Noon respectively. Wide publicity was given through tom-tom, mike announcements in every habitation, display of agenda notices at prominent places, and personal intimation to all Ward Members and the MPTC Member. SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 6 5. The Gram Sabha was accordingly convened on 24.12.2025 in the premises of the Gram Panchayat under the Chairmanship of the Upa- Sarpanch and that 1211 persons attended the meeting. After detailed deliberations, the members were requested to express their opinion by raising their hands either in support or opposition of the proposed trifurcation. Not a single member expressed support for the proposed trifurcation and the entire Grama Sabha opposed the proposal. 6. Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, on the basis of the written instructions, submits that in view of the directions issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the boundaries of administrative units are frozen as on 01.01.2026 and shall remain unchanged during the period from 01.01.2026 to 31.03.2027 to facilitate Census Operations, 2027 and to avoid duplication or omission during the census process. 7. The said instructions further go to show that, in view of the aforesaid directions of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, the Government in the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department has kept in abeyance all proposals relating to bifurcation, trifurcation, or reorganization of Gram Panchayats received from various parts of the State. SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 7 8. Recording the aforesaid submission made by the learned Assistant Government Pleader, and in view of the fact that, as on date, no proposal for bifurcation, trifurcation, or reorganization of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat is under consideration, no further adjudication is required in the present Writ Petition. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. However, if there is any proposal for either trifurcation or reorganization of Penagaluru Gram Panchayat, the petitioners are at liberty to challenge the same in accordance with law by raising all available grounds. No costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. _____________________________ JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY Date:14.07.2026 Ksj SRK,J W.P No.1813 of 2026 8 94 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY Writ Petition No:1813 of 2026 14th July, 2026 Ksj