4 sarpanches, panch in Haryana suspended for fake degrees

Haryana government today suspended four sarpanches and a panch in Fatehabad district for allegedly submitting fake educational certificates to contest panchayat elections early this year.
The action was taken on basis of a complaint with the Fatehabad district administration, an official release said.
Last year, Haryana passed an ordinance fixing minimum educational qualification for contesting panchayati raj institution (PRI) elections, besides laying other conditions.
According to the complaint, sarpanches -- Veerpal Kaur of Pilchhian village, Baljeet Kaur of Bhani Khera village, Sonil Rani of Samain village and Sunita of Bangaon village -- and panch of Talwara ward, Darshan Singh, had allegedly submitted fake educational certificates.

Taking cognisance, Fatehabad Deputy Commissioner, N K Solanki, issued show-cause notices to them and called them for a personal hearing.
However, the accused could not present any concrete evidence in their defense. Therefore, expressing dissatisfaction over the presented evidences the deputy commissioner suspended them with immediate effect, the release said.
He directed block development and panchayat officers concerned to take charge of all movable and immovable assets of the suspended sarpanches and hand over charge of the panchayats concerned to panches.