Gujarat High Court today stayed the removal of a woman sarpanch from her post, who had raised voice against members of the village panchayat who had allegedly encroached on pasture land of Piluda village in Banaskantha district.
A division bench of Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi stayed the Tharad Taluka Development Officer's (TDO) order for removal of Fulbai Chauhan sarpanch of Piludi village who had approached HC seeking reinstatement.
The Court also directed Chauhan not to take important policy decision without informing the court. It issued notice to the Banaskantha district collector on the stay and scheduled further hearing on the matter on January 24, 2011.
The court stayed the order after it was informed by Chauhan's lawyer that the TDO has issued fresh notification for election for post of Piludi village sarpanch and other post of the village panchayat.
In her petition, Chauhan had contended that the no confidence motion was passed against her because she had approached high court against encroacher of the village pasture land which included some of the village panchayat members.
After the no-confidence motion was passed, the TDO passed order for removal of Chauhan from the post of sarpanch on August 31, without proper verification, she had alleged.