Pune Additional Divisional Commissioner Kavita Dwivedi has disqualified the sarpanch and two members of the Parandwadi Gram Panchayat in Maval Taluka for failing to pay their property taxes.
The disqualified members include Sarpanch Alka Dattatraya Papal and members Prakash Shivram Papal and Damu Ganpat Thakar.
The decision came after residents of Parandwadi, Chandrakant Bhote and Bharat Bhote, appealed to the Divisional Commissioner against the district collector's previous ruling, which had not considered crucial evidence submitted by the appellants.
The appeal hearing concluded on August 5, and the disqualification orders were issued on August 13, rendering the positions of the three members vacant.
District Collector's Decision Overturned
The district collector did not consider the evidence submitted with the dispute application filed by the appellants two years ago when making the decision.
Additionally, the Additional Divisional Commissioner Kavita Dwivedi noted in her order that the district collector had misinterpreted a High Court ruling and included it in the decision, which has now been overturned.
The gram vikas officer submitted a report on the vacant positions of the Parandwadi Gram Panchayat members to the district collector on Tuesday (August 20). This report includes the names of sarpanch Alka Dattatraya Papal, member Prakash Shivram Papal, and member Damu Ganpat Thakar.
The tenure of these members was supposed to last until February 23, 2026, but due to their disqualification as per the Additional Divisional Commissioner's order, these positions are now vacant.
Chandrakant Bhote, the applicant in this case, says, "Paying property taxes on time is a duty not only of every individual but also of the sarpanch, gram panchayat members, and other public representatives. The decision by IAS officer Kavita Dwivedi in this appeal sends a strong message that if competent authorities thoroughly consider the legal provisions, they can deliver justice in the public interest."
