Panchayat pradhan suspended for ‘committing irregularities’
The District Panchayat Officer (DPO), Kangra, on Friday suspended Neelam Kumar, pradhan of Barot gram panchayat in Fatehpur development block in Kangra district, for alleged irregularities committed while undertaking works in her panchayat.
According to official information, five ward members of the Barot panchayat had submitted a written complaint against the pradhan to the Block Development Officer (BDO), Fatehpur, who had constituted an inquiry committee to look into the allegations levelled by the ward members.
After conducting an inquiry, the BDO had submitted a report to the district panchayat officer for further action on June 20 earlier this year. The inquiry report confirmed the allegations that the erring panchayat pradhan had committed certain irregularities and violated the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Rule-1997 and Section 145 of the Panchayati Raj Act.
According to DPO Shravan Kumar, after reviewing the inquiry report conducted by the BDO, Fatehpur, a show-cause notice was served to the panchayat pradhan on August 16.
“The panchayat pradhan had submitted her reply in the office of the BDO on September 3, but her reply was found unsatisfactory. As a result, exercising powers under Section 145 of the HP Panchayati Raj Act -1994 and Rule 142 of the HP Panchayati Raj (General) Rules-1997, I have suspended her with immediate effect and directed the suspended pradhan to hand over panchayat assets or records (if any) to the panchayat secretary,” he said.
