Rajasthan High Court
CCP/26/2023 of GRAMOTTHAN SANSTHA, Vs SMT. USHA SHARMA, on 6 August 2026
JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 12479/2022 CNR: RJHC020660132022 | URN: CW / 24691U / 2022 Ramkesh Meena Son Of Shri Moolchand Meena, Aged About 65 Years, Resident Of A -14, Siddharth Nagar Colony, Near Airport Terminal 2, Jagatpura, Jaipur. Presently Member
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
BENCH AT JAIPUR
D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 12479/2022
CNR: RJHC020660132022 | URN: CW / 24691U / 2022
Ramkesh Meena Son Of Shri Moolchand Meena, Aged About 65
Years, Resident Of A-14, Siddharth Nagar Colony, Near Airport Terminal 2, Jagatpura, Jaipur. Presently Member Of Legislative Assembly, Gangapur City, District Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
----Petitioner
Versus
1.
State Of Rajasthan, Through Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2.
The Principal Secretary, Department Of Water Resources Department, Secretariat, Jaipur.
3.
Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, Jaipur.
4.
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Division Sawai Madhopur.
5.
District Collcetor And District Magistrate, Karauli.
Connected With
D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 14825/2020
CNR: RJHC020747192020 | URN: CW / 28228U / 2020
Gramotthan Sanstha, Registered Office At House No. H-139, Sector 11, Indira Gandhi Nagar, Jagatpura, Jaipur And Regional Office At House No. 167, Station Darwaja, Village Peeloda, Tehsil Gangapur City, District Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan Through Its General Secretary Mahendra Singh Son Of Sultan Singh Aged About 51 Years, Resident Of Village And Post Kemla, Tehsil Nadauti District Karauli (Raj) 322220
Versus
1.
The State Of Rajasthan, Through Chief Secretary, Government Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur
2.
The State Of Rajasthan, Through Principal Secretary, Department Of Home, Government Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur
3.
The Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department,
[2026:RJ-JP:30830-DB]
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[CW-12479/2022]
Government Of Rajasthan Jaipur
4.
The Addl. Chief Secretary, Rural Development And Panchayati Raj Department, Government Of Rajasthan, Jaipur
5.
The Divisional Commissioner, Bharatpur , Rajasthan
6.
The District Collector, Karauli Rajasthan
7.
The District Collector, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
8.
The Additonal Chief Engineer, Water Resource Circle, Zone Jaipur, Sinchai Bhawan, Jln Marg, Jaipur
9.
The Executive Engineer, Water Resource Division, Karauli
D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 13380/2022
CNR: RJHC020725442022 | URN: CW / 26639U / 2022
Gambheer Nadi Jal Bachav Samiti, Through Smt. Omlesh Bai Wife Of Kuldeep Gurjar, Aged About 28 Years, Resident Of Kheda Patti, Village Moondia, Tehsil Todabheem, District Karauli.
----Petitioner
Versus
1.
State Of Rajasthan, Through Secretary, Department Of Water Resources, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2.
State Of Rajasthan Through District Collector, Karauli (Raj.)
3.
Chief Engineer, Water Resources, Govt.of Rajasthan, Jekab Road, Jaipur.
4.
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Karauli (Raj.).
D.B. Civil Contempt Petition No. 26/2023
CNR: RJHC021041332022 | URN: CCP / 27U / 2023
Gramotthan Sanstha, Registered Officer At House No. H-139, Sector 11, Indira Gandhi Nagar, Jagatpura, Jaipur And Regional Office At House No. 167, Station Darwaja, Village Peeloda, Tehsil Gangapur City, District Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan Through Its General Secretary Mahendra Singh Son Of Sultan Singh Aged 51
Years, Resident Of Village And Post Kemla, Tehsil Nadauti, District Karauli(Raj.) 322220 (Pan No. Cdzps1584B).
(3 of 7)
[CW-12479/2022]
Versus
1.
Smt. Usha Sharma, Chief Secretary, Government Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2.
Shri Anand Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department Of Home, Government Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
3.
Shri Shikhar Agarwal, Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department, Government Of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
4.
Shri Abhay Kumar, Addl. Chief Secretary, Rural Development And Panchayati Raj Department, Government Of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
5.
Sanwar Mal Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
6.
Shri Ankit Kumar Singh, District Collector, Karuali, Rajasthan.
7.
Shri Suresh Kumar Ola, District Collector, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.
8.
Shri Ajay Kumar Tyagi, Additional Chief Engineer, Water Resource Circle, Zone Jaipur, Sinchai Bhawan, Jln Marg, Jaipur.
9.
Shri Sushil Kumar Gupta, Executive Engineer, Water Resource Division, Karauli.
10.
The State Of Rajasthan, Through Chief Secretary.
Government Of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
For Petitioner(s)
:
Mr. Saransh Saini.
Mr. Sandeep Maheshwari.
Mr. Arvind Kumar Singh.
For Respondent(s)
:
Mr. B.S. Chhaba, AAG assisted by
Mr. Hardik Singh, Ms. Mahi
Choudhary, Ms. Eva Jhajharia.
Ms. Epsa Nangalia & Mr. Samee Khan
on behalf of Mr. Bhuwnesh Sharma,
AAG.
Mr. Akshay Godara, District Collector
Karauli.
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE INDERJEET SINGH
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP TANEJA
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Order
06/08/2026
1. In the present batch of the petitions, since common questions are involved, therefore, these petitions have been heard together and are being decided by the present order, the facts as prayed by both the parties, have been noticed from D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 12479/2022 and the prayer made therein is quoted as below:- Relief Prayed for :
(i) It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to call for the entire record of the case and be further pleased to accept this writ petition and be further pleased to direct the respondents to immediately take appropriate action for opening the Drinking and Irrigation Water to the villagers and Farmers of the Command Area and non- command area of the Panchna Dam in Tehsil Wajirpur, Hindaun, Nadauti, Todabhim immediately in the larger interest of the public;
(ii) Further, till the command area does not receive water, the water be provided to the command area from the dead storage through the lift;
(iii) It is further prayed that penalty be imposed on the responsible people for not letting the Dam Water reach the Command Area;
(iv) The villagers and farmers of the Command Area and non-Command Area of the Panchna Dam in Tehsil Wajirpur, Hindaun, Nadauti, Todabhim may kindly be given compensation for the lack of drinking and irrigation water. (V) It is further prayed that till the time the Command Area does not receive water for, till then the water may not be supplied to the rest of the adjoining
(5 of 7) [CW-12479/2022] villages from the Live Storage and the same may be provided through Dead Storage only. Any other order or direction as may be deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may also be passed in favour of the petitioner. Interim Order, if prayed for : It is further prayed that the respondents be directed to immediately take steps to provide drinking and irrigation water to the villagers and Farmers of the Command Area and non-command area of the Panchna Dam in Tehsil Wajirpur, Hindaun, Nadauti, Todabhim.
2. These petitions have been filed in public interest by the villagers seeking release of water from Panchna Dam for drinking as well as irrigation purposes.
3. From time to time, this Court has issued various directions to the respondents for releasing water from the Panchna Dam to the affected villagers.
4. Lastly, by order dated 30.06.2026, this Court passed the following directions:- “1. We notice from the details given out by the Additional Advocate General that on 14.05.2026, the canals had been prepared ready for release of water but the water was not released and on 22.05.2026 surprisingly, it is specified that under the Chairmanship of the District Collector, Karauli, the Additional Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer started having some discussions with Gudla Panchna Sangharsh Samiti and farmers, whereas we find that from 14.05.2026 to 22.05.2026 there is no representation or agitation mentioned in the details. We are surprised and shocked as to why the District Collector, Karauli and the Additional Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer should enter into talks with some unrecognized Sangharsh Samities and do not release the
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2. It may be noted that even earlier this Court in its order dated 29.03.2023 had specifically pointed out that merely because of agitation and protest, the supply of water cannot be delayed and the excuse of not making the canals operational on account of agitation cannot be accepted.
3. This Court has been time and again reiterating the same directions, but the Government seems to be not interested in implementing the directions of this Court.
4. Prima facie, we find them to have committed contempt, however, before we take any action against the Officers, we direct the District Collector, Karauli to remain present in the Court on the next date to explain their conduct along with an affidavit.
5. List these matters on 27.07.2026.”
5. In compliance thereto, the additional affidavit has been fled by the District Collector, Karauli wherein para Nos. 14 & 16 stated as under:- “14. That the Budget Announcement for the Financial Year 2026-27 provided for allocation of Rs.50.00
Crore
for implementation and renovation of the Panchna Gudla Lift Scheme and for extending irrigation facilities to villages situated near Panchna Dam which had remained deprived of irrigation facilities for a considerable period. The stakeholders were informed about the said policy decision so as to address their long-standing grievances. Copy of Budged Declaration for the Financial Year 2026-27 has already been submitted before the Hon’ble Court. It is important to mention here that the Panchana Gudla Sangarsh Samiti is also a one of the party out of there stakeholder in the meeting hold in presence of 3 ministers & representative of Gramothan Sanstha, Panchana Gudla Sangarsh Samiti & Gambhiri Bachao Jal Samiti.
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16. That ultimately, in faithful compliance of the directions issued by this Hon’ble Court, water was successfully released from Panchna Dam on 16.07.2026 through the feeder canal and water reached the tail-end of the Shri Mahavirji Branch as well as the Piloda Branch, thereby ensuring implementation of the directions issued by this Hon’ble Court.”
6. We have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and have also perused the affidavit submitted by the District Collector, Karauli.
7. We are satisfied with the affidavit submitted by the District Collector, Karauli, as the water from the Panchna Dam has been released to the affected villagers on 16.07.2026 for drinking and irrigation purposes.
8. Since the grievance raised in the batch of Public Interest Litigation stand substantially redressed, therefore, no further directions are required to be issued.
9. Accordingly, the present batch of Public Interest Litigation stand closed.
10. Copy of this order be separately placed in each connected file. (SANDEEP TANEJA),J (INDERJEET SINGH),J 94-97/MG