Khadsangi panchayat documents removed via back window, villagers seek probe
Villagers in Chimur taluka found gram panchayat records being taken out through a back window, days before a special gram sabha, and have demanded an inquiry
An incident at the Khadsangi gram panchayat office in Chimur taluka on a holiday has caused a stir in the village. Villagers noticed important government documents being carried out through the back window and say they exposed the matter. They have demanded an inquiry into the officials and staff concerned, followed by action.
A protest by youths has been going on in front of the Khadsangi gram panchayat for the past fifteen days. A special gram sabha was organised on Tuesday against this backdrop. Two days before that, on Saturday around 1 pm, villagers noticed the panchayat's cashbook, passbook, chequebook, measurement book, bills, various registers and other documents being taken out in three bags.
The documents being carried out included the cashbook, the water supply and general fund ledger, the Fifteenth Finance Commission register, the stock register, action-taken reports, the voucher file, the MGNREGS cashbook, passbook, chequebook and measurement book, besides various other government documents.
Villagers took the documents into their custody. When they questioned the gram panchayat peon, Krishna Satpase, about this, he reportedly told them he was taking the documents out on the instructions of the gram panchayat secretary, according to the villagers. Separately, villagers said the gram panchayat officer, Kavadu Tarale, told them the documents were being sent out for photocopying ahead of Tuesday's gram sabha.
Villagers questioned why the documents were taken out on a holiday, and through the back window at that. They have demanded a fair inquiry into the incident to clarify the exact reason the documents were taken out. Villagers said they have filed a complaint with the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, the Group Development Officer, and the Chimur police station.
Villager and protester Raju Gedam said the documents were taken out through the back window on a holiday when the gram sabha was scheduled for Tuesday, and that this needs to be investigated. He also asked when the administration would probe the work on the Khadsangi playground.
Explaining his side, gram panchayat officer Kavadu Tarale said that since the gram sabha was on Tuesday, some important documents needed to be photocopied. As his mother was unwell and he was going to be late reaching the gram panchayat office, he had asked the peon to get the photocopies done. Since a protest was underway in front of the office, the peon, out of fear, took the documents out through the back window. Tarale said the documents were taken out only for photocopying and there was no wrongful intent behind it.
The atmosphere in the village has turned tense over the protest at the Khadsangi gram panchayat, preparations for the special gram sabha, and the allegation of documents being taken out beforehand. Whether the documents were taken only for photocopying or whether some rule was violated in the process will only become clear through an inquiry. Villagers are watching to see whether the administration presents a clear position on this before Tuesday's special gram sabha.
