Elected Representatives Not Subordinate To Bureaucrats: Supreme Court Depracates 'Colonial Mindset' Of Administrative Authorities

In a case concerning the illegal removal of a woman Sarpanch in Chhattisgarh from her office due to the high-handed actions by State government officers, the Supreme Court called out the "colonial mindset" of the administrative authorities.A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed that elected representatives cannot be treated as subordinates to bureaucrats. In a case concerning the illegal removal of a woman Sarpanch in Chhattisgarh from her office due to the high-handed actions by State government officers, the Supreme Court called out the "colonial mindset" of the administrative authorities. While setting aside the removal of the woman Sarpanch and awarding her a cost of Rs 1 lakh to be payable by the State of Chhattisgarh, the judgment stated : "The administrative authorities, with their colonial mindset, have regrettably failed yet again to recognize the fundamental distinction between an elected public representative and a selected public servant. This misconceived and self­ styled supervisory power is asserted with an intention to equate elected representatives with public servants holding civil posts, completely disregarding the democratic legitimacy conferred by election."