#Panchayat authority

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a panchayat’s installation of a handrail to demarcate a public pathway from adjacent private land does not constitute an unlawful obstruction under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. This clarifies that local bodies may use non-intrusive physical barriers to prevent encroachment and preserve public access, reinforcing the autonomy of gram panchayats in managing community infrastructure without requiring formal land acquisition.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that demolition of private property without prior notice, survey, or hearing violates constitutional guarantees under Article 21 and 300A. The court directed authorities to follow due process, reinforcing that arbitrary actions by Panchayat or government bodies are unconstitutional and subject to judicial scrutiny.