(1.) The petitioner no. 1-Dinesh Kumar is the Gram Pradhan, Gram Panchayat - Sewra Lal, Vikas Khand - Vikramjot, District - Basti; the petitioner no. 2-Hariom Pal is the Additional Development Officer, Gram Panchayat - Sewra Lala, Vikas Khand - Vikramjot, District - Basti; the petitioner no. 3-Awadhesh Jaiswal is the Gram Panchayat Adhikari, Gram Panchayat - Sewra Lala, Vikas Khan - Vikramjot, District - Basti; the petitioner no. 4-Suraj Kumar Pandey, is the Village Development Officer, Gram Panchaat - Sewra Lala, Vikas Khand - Vikramjot, District - Basti and the petitioner no. 5-Vijay Kumar Malviya, is the Technical Assistant, Gram Panchayat - Sewra Lala, Vikas Khand - Vikramjot, District Ballia.
(2.) Thereafter, on the basis of the ex parte enquiry, the District Magistrate issued show cause notices to the petitioners asking them to submit replies to the charges levelled against them and to explain as to why under the provisions of Sec. 27 (2) of the U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (hereinafter refer to as 'the Act of 1947') recovery of Rs.19,95,110.00 be not initiated jointly against the petitioners.
(3.) The petitioners submitted their replies and, thereafter, when on 29/8/2022, the District Magistrate, Basti, passed the order impugned, the instant writ petition was filed.