Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Nov 28: The president of Gangolli panchayat in the taluk has ordered suspension of a bill collector of the panchayat office with immediate effect. The suspension has come on the basis of allegations that the employee concerned had behaved improperly with some people's representatives of the panchayat including men and women, and was demanding and collecting bribe from citizens eligible for provision of facilities under the housing schemes of the government.

Bill collector of the panchayat named Uday Kumar was suspended as above, until investigation into the charges levelled against him is completed.

The panchayat president had received written complaints from some of the panchayat members about the disrespectful and unbecoming behaviour of the said bill collector with them. It is said that the said employee was harassing people who had sought employment cards under Mahtama Gandhi Natiional Rural Employment Guarantee scheme by refusing to accept applications tendered under this scheme,, and also seeking payment of bribe from those who want to own houses under the government's housing schemes. It is said that written complaints about the employee depriving those people of facilities under the scheme who refused to meet his demand for payment of bribe, were also filed with the panchayat office.

The entire issue came up for discussion at the general session of the gram panchayat held on November 12. As there is possibility of the employee destroying evidences if he is continued in employment, and basing on the resolution passed at the said meeting, panchayat president, Reshma Kharvi, suspended the bill collector with immediate effect till the completion of the investigation, under section 62(1) of Panchayati Raj Act 1993.

It is however, learnt that Uday Kumar has failed to hand over keys of the panchayat office to the secretary so far.