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<p>The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Chhattisgarh government over harassment faced by a woman Sarpanch and closed proceedings initiated against her for alleged delay in construction work in the village. </p>
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<p>Terming it as a case of “high handedness” by the government in removing an elected woman Sarpanch, the court that instead of admiring her commitments or extending a helping hand for what she intended to do for her village, she has been wronged for absolutely unjustified reasons.</p>
<p>A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Chhattisgarh government to reinstate Sonam Lakra as the village Sarpanch and pay her Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the harassment and forcing her to step down from the Sarpanch post.</p>
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<p>While quashing proceedings against her, the bench explained that construction work needs engineers, contractors, timely supply of labour, and a Sarpanch can not be held responsible for the delay.</p>
<p>While hearing the case, the bench asked: “How can Sarpanch be held liable for delay unless there is delay in allocation of work or delay in specific duty of the elected body?”</p>
<p>The court termed proceedings against her a “lame excuse” to remove her and held that she was removed on false pretext. </p>
<p>The court took strong exception to the State government and directed that the compensation amount of Rs 1 lakh should be released within a week and recovered from the State officers responsible for her removal.</p>
<p>When the counsel for respondents told the court that she was supposed to go before higher authorities, Justice Kant remarked, <em>”</em>You want a Sarpanch to go with a begging bowl before the babu…some clerk who has been promoted as CEO…”.</p>
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<p>Sonam Lakra, a 27-year-old woman, successfully contested the election of sarpanch of the Sajbahar Gram Panchayat but was forced to step down after alleged delay in completion of construction projects for roads.</p>
<p>After the High Court refused to grant any relief to her, she moved the top court.</p>
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