Two Haryana revenue staff suspended for illegal 'Khap' rulings

Chandigarh, March 22 (IANS) Two lower level revenue officials have been suspended in Haryana's Rohtak district for being party to  an illegal decision of a 'Khap panchayat' (community council) which had declared a husband and wife as brother and sister.

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner P.C. Meena suspended 'Numberdars' (revenue officials) Ajmer Singh and Virender of Kheri panchayat (village council) as they were members of the 'Khap panchayat' which declared a husband and wife
as brother and sister.

Meena said it was the duty of the officials to maintain peace and communal amity and resolve disputes, but their functioning was contrary to their basic duty.

He said the decision of the 'Khap panchayat' at Kheri was not in the interest of the society.

This is the second instance within a week that authorities in Haryana have initiated action against officials for being party to the illegal decisions of 'Khap panchayats'.

The district administration in Bhiwani, 300 km from here, last week suspended two village panchayat (council) members, including a sarpanch (village headman) for declaring the marriage of a couple as void.

Samaspur village headman Surender and council member Ramesh were  suspended under section 51(1)(a) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

With the rising number of controversial and illegal decisions being announced by Khap panchayats in Haryana in recent years, especially against young married couples belonging to the same gotra (lineage), the state administration has only now started acting against the extra-constitutional authority being wielded by these khap councils.

A campaign has been launched in Rohtak district to put to an end to such decisions.

The Rohtak district administration has asked representatives of Khap panchayats to desist from pronouncing unilateral and controversial decisions and have been urged to instead work for the welfare of the society.

The district officials cautioned the Khap panchayats that the district administration would not hesitate from taking legal action against those panchayats which would take "atrocious and anti-society decisions" in future.