Sirsa sarpanch suspended for forged education proof

Kanta Devi, sarpanch of Baruwali-II village in Nathusari Chopta block, Sirsa, has been suspended after her education certificate was found to be invalid.

Elected from a Backward Class (BC) women’s reserved seat, Kanta Devi had submitted an 8th-grade certificate from a Rajasthan school. Her rival, Sona Devi, filed a complaint with the district administration, alleging the certificate was fake.

An official probe revealed that the school in question had shut down in 2006, and the certificate’s authenticity could not be verified. Based on this, the authorities suspended Kanta Devi from her post.

“I genuinely studied and passed from that school in 1997,” said Kanta Devi, adding that the same certificate was submitted during her nomination. “My husband was told at the BDPO office that we’ll receive the suspension order by registered post. We plan to appeal.”

District Development and Panchayat Officer Baljit Singh Chahal confirmed the suspension: “The certificate was found to be ‘fake’ during the probe.” He also noted that similar complaints from other villages are under investigation.

This incident follows the 2015 Haryana Assembly legislation that mandates minimum education qualifications for panchayat candidates — Class 10 for general category, and Class 8 for women (general) and Scheduled Caste candidates.