Kanungo Suspended Over Negligence in Revenue Records
Bhiwani Deputy Commissioner Sahil Gupta has suspended Sumer Singh, a kanungo (revenue department official), following an inquiry into a complaint forwarded by the Lokayukta. The complaint alleged that while serving as patwari in Loharh village, Sumer Singh sanctioned a mutation but failed to incorporate it into the revenue records (jamabandi).
Additional Deputy Commissioner Deepak Babulal Karwa investigated the matter and found Sumer Singh guilty of negligence. Acting on the inquiry report, the Deputy Commissioner suspended him with immediate effect. The suspension order states that during the suspension period, Sumer Singh's headquarters has been shifted to Siwani, and he has been directed not to leave without prior permission from the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Siwani.
Sarpanch Suspended for Financial Irregularities
In a separate case, the Deputy Commissioner suspended Sultan Singh, the sarpanch of Devawas village, after an inquiry prima facie found him accountable for financial irregularities in development works. The district administration constituted a three-member committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Bhiwani, and comprising the Executive Engineers of the Panchayati Raj Department and the Zila Parishad to investigate a complaint alleging embezzlement by the sarpanch.
The inquiry reportedly found financial irregularities in several development works, deficiencies in the verification of construction materials, and serious discrepancies in official records. Specific allegations include financial loss to the gram panchayat in the construction of a boundary wall of an old-age home, payment of bills for various street and road construction works without verification of materials by the Panchayati Raj Department, irregularities in the procurement of cement for the construction of a boundary wall at a Shiv temple, and submission of fake bills for repair work at an Anganwadi centre in the village.
Action Under Panchayati Raj Act
Acting on the committee's findings, the Deputy Commissioner suspended Sultan Singh and barred him from participating in any panchayat meetings during the suspension period under Section 51(2) of the Panchayati Raj Act. The Deputy Commissioner also directed the panchayat secretary to immediately take possession of all movable and immovable assets, funds, records, and documents of the gram panchayat and hand them over to the senior-most panch in accordance with the rules.
