1 APHC010363872026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3327] MONDAY, THE 20th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO: 19387/2026 Between: 1. BUDDALA RAMBABU, A ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, S ...RESPONDENT Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. K JYOTHI PRASAD Counsel for the Respondent: 1. The Court made the following: 2 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K.SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.19387 OF 2026 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “…..to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of MANDAMUS declaring the inaction on the part of the respondents to act upon the representation dated 13-07-2026 which was submitted to prevent illegal and unauthorized constructions for installation of Statue of Sri Babu Jagjivan Ram on road margin of Taduvai to Lakshmipuram via Chinnavari Gudem Panchayatraj Road adjacent to the lands of the petitioner situated in R.S No. 394 of Taduvai Revenue Village, Jangareddy Gudem Mandal, Eluru (Erstwhile West Godavari) District, without obtaining any permission from the competent authority, which would cause inconvenience for usage of the said road by the public including congestion of road for free flow of traffic as the said road is the only way for lifting crops from the Agricultural lands through heavy vehicles i.e., Lorries etc., in contravention of the provisions of A.P. Panchayatraj Act, 1994 and relevant Government Orders in accordance with guidelines laid down in SLP (C) No.8519 of 2006, dated 18/01/2013 as illegal, irregular and irrational besides violation of Constitutional Guarantees and to consequently direct the respondents to stop such Installation of Statue and to demolish the constructions which were already made on Panchayat Road margin for such installation at the said place and to pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.” 3 2. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner is a permanent resident of Chinnavari Gudem village and eking out his livelihood by doing agriculture. According to him, the lands are situated on the southern side of Panchayatraj road existing from Taduvai to Lakshmipuram via Chinnavari Gudem. The said road is the only road to reach their village either from Taduvai or Lakshmipuram. The said road is being used by all their villagers for purpose of their ingress and egress including passage of heavy vehicles like lorries, tractors, agriculture implements, school buses, etc. Width of the road is about 20 feet which includes margins. According to him, the actual usage of the road is about 15 feet. 3. While so, on 10.07.2026 at about 9.00 a.m, it is alleged that the unofficial respondents started digging on the road margin adjacent to the land of the petitioner. On questioning the same, they replied that they were installing the statue of Sri Babu Jagjivan Ram on the road margin. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner, placing reliance on G.O.Ms.No.18, dated 18.02.2013 issued by the Transport, Roads & Buildings(Roads-1) Department, stated that new 4 statue shall not be installed on any roads without approval from the Government. He further submitted that the unofficial respondents are contemplating to install the statue without obtaining permission from the District Collector (2nd respondent) and by virtue of the same, it would cause much inconvenience to the public. Hence, the petitioner and other villagers objected such encroachment on panchayatraj road, which leads to their village. In respect of the same, they made complaints to the official respondents and also complained in public grievance redressal system on 13.07.2026. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner, placing reliance on G.O.Ms.No.18, dated 18.02.2013, submitted that no new statue can be installed on any road without obtaining prior approval from the Government. He further contended that the unofficial respondents were proposing to install the statue without obtaining permission from the District Collector (2nd respondent). Such unauthorized installation, according to the petitioner, would cause considerable inconvenience to the general public. Therefore, the petitioner and other villagers objected to the proposed encroachment upon the Panchayat 5 Raj Road leading to their village. They accordingly submitted complaints to the official respondents and also lodged a grievance through the Public Grievance Redressal System on 13.07.2026. 6. Learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, on the basis of written instructions dated 15.07.2026, furnished by 3rd respondent-District Panchayt Officer, submitted that, pursuant to the complaint lodged by the petitioner and other villagers, 6th respondent–Gram Panchayat had issued notices dated 13.07.2026 to the unofficial respondents, who were attempting to install the statue, directing them to stop all construction activities relating to the proposed installation forthwith. It was further submitted that upon receipt of the said notices, the private respondents immediately stopped the construction relating to the proposed installation of the statue. It was also submitted that they addressed a representation to the Grampanchayat stating that they had complied with the directions issued by the Grampanchayat and requesting permission for installation of the statue in accordance with the applicable Government Orders and the 6 relevant statutory provisions. Learned counsel further submitted that as on date, no installation of the statue is being carried out and that the matter shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, and the Government Orders governing the installation of statues in public places. 7. Recording the aforesaid submissions and taking on record the written instructions furnished by the learned Government Pleader, this Writ Petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending if any, shall stand closed. _______________________ K.SREENIVASA REDDY, J Date: 20.07.2026. PAB 7 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE K.SREENIVASA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.19387 OF 2026 DATE: 20.07.2026 PAB