Dy sarpanch in Surat village fathers third child, suspended

A deputy sarpanch in a village of Surat district had to quit office after he fathered third child, in keeping with the rule banning political functionaries from having more than two children. Ajay Patel, a resident of Allu village in Bardoli taluka had contested the gram panchayat election from Ward No. 2 on February 3, 2013, and won. He also went on to become deputy sarpanch in the gram panchayat.

According to sources, Patel’s wife delivered their third child on December 21, 2014. Ajay kept the news of his newborn hidden from the villagers to continue in the posts of deputy sarpanch and panchayat member. However, one of the villagers, Manubhai Dodiya, learnt about it and got hold of the child’s birth certificate. Dodiya then contacted Bardoli Taluka Development Officer R L Patel and filed an application to cancel Patel’s membership.

Later, Patel confessed to the fact that his third child was born after his election. The two-child norm was effected in Gujarat in 2005. The Bardoli taluka development officer said, “As per the law, we have passed order of suspension of gram panchayat member Ajay Patel and a copy of it had also been given to the Allu village sarpanch.”

Source:: Indian Express