HC shunts panchayat officer out of Malwa region for 5 yrs

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

In a first, the Punjab and Haryana has directed the preparation of an inventory of registers and other record handed over to newly elected sarpanches at the time of taking over. Justice Paramjeet Singh has also ordered that Panchayat Secretary Rajiv Kumar should be transferred to some far-off place.

He should not be allowed to stay in Malwa region for next five years. Appropriate action should also be initiated against him as he failed to hand over record to a sarpanch, the court said. A firm warning has also been issued to a block development and panchayat officer.

The directions came on a petition by “unanimously elected” sarpanch Binder Kaur for handing over record and accounts of Chak Rohliwala gram panchayat in Fazilka district. Justice Paramjeet Singh asserted: “It has come to notice of this court that when the charge is handed or taken over by a sarpanch, no list is being prepared. Rather the officials rely upon resolution. If there is such a state of affair, grave mistakes can occur with regard to custody and proper maintenance of record. Since the elected representatives, particularly ladies, are depending upon the officials, proper list of handing over and taking over registers, record and charge is required to be prepared”.

Justice Paramjeet Singh also took note of Rajiv Kumar’s admission that the record had not been hand over as the quorum of the panchayat was incomplete. “The Panchayat Secretary has no power to take decision with regard to quorum or otherwise. This is the function of only BDPO or superior authority.

“It appears that whole affairs are being run by Rajiv Kumar, who actually is not the competent authority to do so… The court deems it fit and proper that Rajiv Kumar should be transferred outside the district, preferably to Pathankot or any other far-off place, but at least not in the Malwa region for five years.”