Two village sarpanches suspended, one removed from post in Ambala

The Ambala Deputy Commissioner has suspended sarpanches of Mastpur and Ujjal Majri villages, and removed sarpanch of Dhurkhara village from the post. Action has been taken after complaints related to irregularities in development works, causing loss to gram panchayats and felling of tree without permission were received from residents of villages concerned.

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As per information, at Mastpur village, a numberdar in a complaint against sarpanch Baljinder Singh had alleged that he caused loss to gram panchayat by allowing excavation of soil from Gau Charand land during the Lok Sabha elections. As per complaint, the sarpanch had gone against norms and gave soil of Gau Charand land to some private people in order to give them benefits. An investigation report of the SDM stated that the act cost a loss of over Rs 58 lakh to the gram panchayat. On receiving the report, the Deputy Commissioner issued suspension orders of Mastpur village sarpanch.

In case of Ujjal Majri village of Naraingarh block, Jagpal Singh and other residents of the village alleged irregularities in development works and corruption by sarpanch Ravinder Kumar. A complaint was handed over to the SDO, Panchayati Raj, Naraingarh, in this regard. The official in his report stated that the record of various works were not presented before the officer concerned due to which possibility of irregularities in development works could not be ruled out.

A show-cause notice was issued to sarpanch, but his reply was found dissatisfactory. The sarpanch failed to provide evidence in his support during personal hearing. Following investigation, the sarpanch was suspended from the post and the Deputy Commissioner also barred him from attending meetings of the gram panchayat.

He also instructed Ravinder Kumar to handover record and moveable and immovable property of the gram panchayat to a panch.

In case of Dhurkhara village, allegations were levelled against gram panchayat sarpanch Manpreet Kaur that she had got an old tree cut at the cremation ground without permission and resolution in 2023. The matter was investigated by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Ambala-1 block. The BDPO issued directions to take action against person responsible for felling the tree. Despite repeated directions, no action was taken by sarpanch and the gram panchayat in this regard. In a reply submitted by sarpanch in response to allegations levelled against her, she stated that the tree was cut before her tenure and a complaint filed at the police station in this regard. The authorities concerned found reply of sarpanch dissatisfactory. The matter was further handed over to the SDM (City) who reported contradictions in statements of the sarpanch.

Following the SDM’s report, a show-cause notice was issued to sarpanch. During personal hearing, the sarpanch failed to produce any evidence in support of her claims. The Deputy Commissioner ordered her removal from the post of sarpanch and instructed her to handover the record and moveable and immovable property of the gram panchayat to a panch.