- (1.) BY The Court.- This is a bunch of petitions filed by the Block-Pramukhs challenging the clarification issued by the Government of India vide circular dated 3rd August 2007, by means of which it has been maintained that at the Block Level, the Programme Officer will be the essential signatory of the joint account, but the officer next to him exclusively looking after the work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as 'the NREGA') or the Accounts Officer of the Block shall be the second signatory of the joint account at the Block level.
(2.) THE grievance is against the nomination of the second signatory only. Under challenge is also the circulars issued by the State Government on 7th September 2007, in compliance of the aforesaid directive of the Central Government providing that under NREGA scheme, the accounts will be operated upon by the joint signatures of the Block Development Officer/Programme Officer and the Assistant Development Officer (Panchayat) of the same Block. The scheme as notified by the State Government on 5th October 2007 under Section 4(1), saying that the account shall be operated upon by the joint signatures of the Programme Officer (Block Development Officer) and the Assistant Development Officer (Panchayat) of that block, is also under challenge.
(3.) ALL these writ petitions have been filed by the Block Pramukhs namely; various Kshettra Panchayats, which are block level Panchayats.;