Jalandhar, July 8
Despite tall claims by the SAD-BJP government to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system up to the grassroots level by the delegation of powers to the elected members, a duly-elected panch belonging to backward classes category of Kohar Kalan village in Shahkot subdivision is running from pillar to post to take oath of office for the past three years.
Mr Dial Singh, who had contested elections in the backward class category, was duly elected as “panch” of Kohar Kalan village in the Shahkot subdivision, 40 km from here, by defeating his nearest rival by 35 votes on June 21, 1998. Though his joys knew no bounds on being elected as “panch”, yet he did not know that destiny had something else in store for him.
The Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of the Shahkot subdivision Mr Babu Ram had allegedly refused to allow Dial Singh to take oath of the office despite latter’s repeated requests in this regard. “Though my name was published in the state government gazette on being elected member panchayat, yet the Shahkot BDPO has refused to allow me to take oath without any valid argument,” Mr Dial Singh alleged.
The Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, had issued orders to the BDPO on August 2, 1999, that Dial Singh should be allowed to take “oath” without any further delay and a detailed report should be submitted within a week to the head office why the latter had not performed his duty in accordance with law of the land in this case. But, these orders were never implemented and no relief was ever granted to the panch.
“Despite the claims of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, that duly elected members of panchayats would be accorded priority by the bureaucrats and police officials in the state, I am virtually begging for the past three years without any fault of mine,” rued Mr Dial Singh.
Even the state Election Commission had asked the department concerned to allow him to take “oath”.
According to official sources more than 250 cases were filed in election tribunal headed by the District Magistrate challenging elections of panches and sarpanches in the last elections. More than 100 cases were still pending with the tribunal for the past three years. The pendancy of such cases was mainly attributed to the decision of the state government to withdraw powers of the Subdivisional Magistrate to settle these disputes.
But, according to a recent decision of the Punjab Government, all Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) are empowered to settle such cases to ensure speedy disposal.
“I filed a case with the tribunal two years ago, but the decision in this regard is still pending. I also met the Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Mr Mandeep Singh, last week, who assured me that matter would be solved within 15 days,” he added.
When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K. Shiva Parsad, said he had already instructed the ADC, Mr Parveen Kumar to conduct an inquiry into the case and submit the report within seven days.
“Mr Dial Singh will be allowed to take “oath” after receiving report in this case,” Mr Parsad added.
