Surjit Singh Rakhra Charge-Sheets Deputy Director

Rural Development Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, who had to confronted discomfiture for announcing the termination of all 12,775 village panchayats in Punjab to pave the way for new polls, has held a Deputy Director placed in the Rural Development and Panchayats Department in Chandigarh accountable for the goof-up.

The minister reportedly did not bother to consult the Election Commission on the subject and took it upon himself to dissolve the panchayats.

The state administration had to forward an explanation, leaving Rakhra red-faced.

The minister was reportedly advised by certain functionaries to hold a press meeting and declare the termination of panchayats.

When met, Rakhra stated that the panchayats would carry on functioning generally till the Election Commission forwarded a notice.

“I have forwarded a charge sheet to Deputy Director Jaspal Singh for briefing me with mistaken data,” the minister added.

Rakhra declared that the panchayats stood dissolved and that the authorities of the panchayats had been forwarded to certain functionaries to accomplish growth projects.

The minister had even declared that the election procedure for the novel panchayats would be finished before May 31.