The Director of the Development and Panchayat Department, Punjab Government, Amit Kumar has suspended Sarpanch Pramod Kumar of Sundra village due to allegations of misconduct. Pramod Kumar is accused of misusing his authority by favouring his mother, Rani Devi, and wife, Prem Chand, as unjust beneficiaries under the PMAY (G) scheme for house construction.
The investigation report, prompted by complaints from Bhupinder Singh and others in the village, revealed that Sarpanch Pramod Kumar had released installments for the construction of a house despite discrepancies.
The inquiry found that the lower floor of Pramod Kumar’s mother’s house had a lantern, while the upper roof only had girders and beams, raising questions about the eligibility for the scheme. Sarpanch Pramod Kumar failed to provide any evidence in his defense during the investigation. As a result, he not only incurred financial losses for the Panchayat by violating scheme guidelines but also neglected his duties as a Sarpanch.
Exercising powers under Section 20 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, Sarpanch Pramod Kumar was promptly suspended from his position. During his suspension, he is barred from participating in any Panchayat proceedings. The responsibility for the records, Panchayat fund, and other assets of the Panchayat will be transferred to a selected Panch in a meeting convened by the BDPO, Derabassi. Additionally, instructions have been issued to seal the Gram Panchayat accounts operated in the name of Sarpanch, obtain charges from the operators, and submit a report to the relevant office.