The Supreme Court of India reinstated Sonam Lakra as the sarpanch of Sajbahar Panchayat in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday, criticizing the state government for her wrongful removal. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, highlighting a case of administrative high-handedness, imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Chhattisgarh government for the mental harassment caused to Lakra due to her unjustified ouster.
Lakra, who was elected in January 2020, faced removal over alleged delays in the completion of construction projects under her purview. The state authorities had initially cited poor management of the construction work as the reason for her dismissal, which the top court has now deemed a “lame excuse.”
The bench pointed out the multifaceted challenges in construction, including dependencies on timely material supply and weather conditions, which could not solely be the sarpanch’s responsibility unless specific negligence was proven. The court emphasized that the punitive actions against Lakra seemed driven more by bureaucratic power dynamics than by her performance or the lack thereof.
In its stern rebuke, the court noted that instead of assisting a young woman leader striving to develop her remote village, state officials chose to obstruct her efforts for trivial administrative conveniences. The Supreme Court’s decision also included a directive for the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh to investigate and identify the officials responsible for initiating the unfounded proceedings against Lakra.
During the proceedings, the court also expressed frustration with the state’s counsel, cautioning against repetitive disruptions and critiquing the expectation that Lakra should appeal to lower bureaucratic levels, which could compromise her dignity and authority as an elected official.
