High-Handedness By State: Supreme Court Sets Aside Order Removing Chhattisgarh Woman Sarpanch From Office

The Supreme Court today set aside an order removing a woman Sarpanch from office in Chhattisgarh and directed enquiry into the officials who caused unwarranted harassment to her. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan heard the matter, coming down heavily on the state for causing undue harassment to the elected woman Sarpanch, on the pretext of delay in construction work. The order was dictated thus: "This is a case bordering high handedness on the part of the authorities in removing an elected sarpanch, who is a young woman who thought of serving her village in a remote area of State of Chhattisgarh. Instead of admiring her commitments or cooperating with her or extending a helping hand, what the appellant intended to do for development of her village, she has been wronged for absolutely uncalled for and unjustified reasons.Construction of works involves engineers, contractors and timely supply of material besides vagaries of weather.how can a Sarpanch be responsible for the delay in construction works unless it is found that there was a delay in allocation of work or performance of a specific duty assigned to the elected body.we are satisfied that initiation of proceedings was a lame excuse and the appellant has been removed from the office of Sarpanch on one or the other false pretext.